Mariska Hargitay, the enduring star of “Law & Order: SVU,” steps behind the camera for an intensely personal and revelatory journey into the life of her mother, screen icon Jayne Mansfield. Her documentary, “My Mom Jayne,” is far more than a typical celebrity biography; it’s a daughter’s decades-long quest to understand the complex woman she lost tragically young, blending profound emotional depth with unexpected truths about her own identity.
A Daughter’s Search for Identity
Hargitay was only three years old when her mother, Jayne Mansfield, died in a fatal car accident in 1967. Mariska was in the car with two of her brothers, suffering a head injury herself, a trauma that left her with only a single, possibly imagined, memory of her mother. This profound absence fueled a lifelong search for answers, a desire to connect with the vibrant, often controversial figure who was her mother.
The documentary serves as Hargitay’s introspective exploration, an attempt to piece together Mansfield’s life, choices, and legacy. It’s an accomplished first feature film for Hargitay as a director, pulling the audience into her “detective-story quest” as she grapples with questions that have haunted her for years:
Why did her mother make certain relationship choices after her marriage to Mariska’s kind father, Mickey Hargitay?
Why did Mansfield seemingly give her so little attention or affection in photos?
What was the true nature of the woman behind the famous “sex symbol” image?
For a long time, Hargitay admits she struggled with her mother’s public persona, feeling shame and actively trying to forge her own path as a serious actress, away from that shadow.
Unearthing the Past and Finding Connection
“My Mom Jayne” visually reflects Hargitay’s journey of discovery. The film takes viewers alongside her as she revisits significant places from her past, including the remnants of her parents’ former Beverly Hills estate. It documents poignant moments like searching for a childhood piano and opening a family storage unit that had remained untouched since 1969. One particularly moving scene shows her finding her mother’s Golden Globe award (for New Star of the Year) and placing it beside her own “SVU” Golden Globe, a powerful symbol of bridging their different paths.
The documentary doesn’t shy away from Mansfield’s complexities or acknowledged poor choices, instead seeking empathy and understanding for why* she was the way she was. It highlights Mansfield’s talents beyond her pinup image, noting her skills as a musician and her acclaimed acting work, while contrasting it with the industry’s tendency to define her solely by her looks.
A Shocking Personal Revelation
While the film explores Mansfield’s public and private life, one of the most profound and “earth shattering” revelations unearthed is deeply personal for Hargitay herself. “My Mom Jayne” confirms a long-standing speculation: singer Nelson Sardelli is Mariska Hargitay’s biological father.
This disclosure adds an extraordinary layer to Hargitay’s quest for identity. While the loving bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay raised Mariska as his own daughter and remained her steadfast father figure, maintaining a quiet denial of this truth until his passing in 2006, the documentary sees Mariska publicly acknowledging this aspect of her heritage. It highlights the complexities of family, parentage, and the narratives we construct and inherit, making her search for identity even more intricate and moving.
Hargitay proves to be an impressive interviewer throughout the film, gently but firmly questioning those who knew her mother, including her older siblings, whose clearer memories of Mansfield provide crucial pieces of the puzzle Mariska lacks. She even holds Mansfield’s former publicist accountable on camera for past betrayals of confidence, demonstrating her determination to uncover the full truth.
From Shame to Empathy
Over the years, fueled by her investigation and introspection, Hargitay’s feelings towards her mother have evolved significantly, shifting from youthful shame to profound empathy and a deep emotional connection. This growth is symbolized by personal gestures, like staging a birthday party for her mother during the early days of COVID. This evolving understanding within the film also mirrors a broader cultural shift towards greater empathy for the complex and often tragic figures of old Hollywood.
Ultimately, “My Mom Jayne” is praised as a powerful, intimate, and searching directorial debut. It feels like a story discovered organically during the process of making the film, resulting in a raw and honest portrait. It’s a testament to a daughter’s enduring love and determination to understand her mother, culminating in not only a deeper connection to Jayne Mansfield’s legacy but also a clearer picture of her own remarkable identity.
“My Mom Jayne” is scheduled to air on HBO and will be available to stream on MAX starting Friday, June 27.
References
- www.indiewire.com
- <a href="https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65351283/?ref=nwcart_perm”>www.imdb.com
- uk.news.yahoo.com
- <a href="https://m.imdb.com/news/ni65350358/?ref=nwcart_perm”>m.imdb.com
- uk.news.yahoo.com
