The Nuances of Motherhood: as presented by “Nightbitch” and “Wild Robot”

Illustration by Nicholas Latham

During Film Fest (yes, we’re still talking about Film Fest) our screens were graced with two films that opened the conversation of motherhood to areas that, in my opinion, have not been explored in great depth in the past. Watching the films back-to-back was eye-opening as I drew many comparisons between the more blatant approach that “Nightbitch” took versus the metaphorical one taken by “Wild Robot”. 

A big point that both films touch on is the striking duality of being a mother — how motherhood can be the most perplexing yet rewarding experience. The challenges of motherhood were vividly illustrated when Roz described it as a task that “has delayed (her), damaged (her), and violated (her) protocols, potentially voiding (her) warranty!” Despite Roz’s belief that parenthood was an overwhelming challenge, it was exactly what taught her compassion, which was much more than she was programmed to understand. In “Nightbitch”, Mother’s struggle with motherhood came from the gruellingly repetitive cycle she went through every day as a stay-at-home mom. She felt as though she had lost a part of her identity, no longer able to pursue her passions, such as painting, which she had excelled at before setting it aside to focus on parenting. Despite this, her love for her son drove her to be a passionate and loving mother, which is evident in moments when the two play in the park or share bedtime stories. 

While attempting to deal with the challenges of raising a child, Roz and Mother both ended up tapping into their primal instincts. Although it seems ironic for a robot to have primal instincts, Roz had to learn how to survive in the wild to raise Brightbill effectively. She especially had to understand how geese fly and swim to teach Brightbill these skills. By assimilating to life in the wilderness, Roz became less robotic in her motherhood. The same can be said about Mother. The monotony of her everyday tasks subsided once she let loose and started acting more like a dog, which I know sounds absurd. Up until this transformation started to get out of hand, Mother and Son found much more joy than usual in their everyday routines. In both cases, the adaptation of feral behaviors served as a metaphor for the freedom and spontaneity that Mother and Roz needed to fully enjoy motherhood. However, there were limitations to this. For Roz, the limitation was that she was a robot and could only assimilate so much. For Mother, the limitation was that acting like a dog is…weird. These constraints exist to remind us of the importance of balance. 

Neither of these stories revolved just around the mother and child. They dive deep into the people, and animals, that affect how the mother-child dynamic plays out. In “Nightbitch”, Mother was initially seen taking on parenting primarily on her own as Father was usually on a work trip. At the start of the film, Mother didn’t particularly connect with the other mothers at their local mother-baby book club. As the movie progressed, however, she realized that these women were the only ones who truly understood the nooks and crannies of her experience as a mother. They helped her feel less isolated as she struggled with her tumultuous identity crisis. Mother also found solace in reflecting on memories of her own mother’s struggles, as she was finally able to understand things from her perspective. Roz had a similar experience when she sought advice from mother possum Pinktail. Pinktail reassured Roz in her struggles with raising Brightbill, reminding her that motherhood isn’t something to be mastered but a journey where challenges must be faced as they arise rather than meticulously planned for or avoided. “Throughout the film, Fink the fox assists Roz in raising Brightbill. A clever yet outcast creature, Fink, found a sense of belonging with Roz and Brightbill, who became his first real family.  Fink helped Roz understand forest life, helped teach Brightbill how to swim and fly, and filled in the gap whenever Roz and Brightbill didn’t see eye to eye. This deeper level of involvement in parenting is something Mother lacks in “Nightbitch” until the end, when Father took on the role of a stay-at-home parent and realized the importance of being more involved, ultimately restoring balance in Mother’s life.

Both “Nightbitch” and “Wild Robot” present motherhood as a multifaceted experience, blending struggle, growth, and profound connection. Through their contrasting approaches—one grounded in raw realism and the other in allegory—these stories explore how mothers adapt to challenges, rediscover themselves, and find strength in unexpected places. Whether it’s through primal instincts or the support of a community, both films remind us that the journey of motherhood, though complex, is enriched by resilience, balance, and the love shared between parent and child.