The Source Magazine had the opportunity to see Mickalene Thomas’ directorial debut “Happy Birthday to a Beautiful Woman.” Read our review below!

Knowing nothing about Mickalene Thomas or her mother Sandra Bush, I was unsure of what to expect going into “Happy Birthday to a Beautiful Woman.” In her debut as a director, Thomas tells the story of her mother letting the audience into every revealing detail. Sandra was at one point a runway model who had dreams of becoming the first African-American supermodel. But she had her struggles which derailed this dream ranging from addiction to spousal abuse. In this 23 minute film, I found myself touched yet saddened and wanting to learn so much more about this woman.

Sandra Bush should be easily recognizable to fans of Mickalene Thomas’s art as Mama Bush became a muse for her daughter’s work. In telling her mother’s story, Thomas paints a larger-than-life persona of the woman she would find her inspiration in. After marrying young and suffering through the abuse from her husband, she had decided she’d had enough and took her two kids away from him for good. Now on her own, she was prepared for new beginnings and a brand new life…if only it were that easy. Her next husband would end up getting her into trouble and she wound up falling into some hard times. Showing her strength and resilience though, she sought help and was able to turn her life around for the better.

In this 23 minute film, I found myself touched yet saddened and wanting to learn so much more about this woman. No matter how far she had fallen, she found a way to get back up and stand tall. She almost was able to grab a hold of her dreams, but when she fell short, she didn’t just stop living. Instead, she continued to go on with her life. In reference to the title of the movie…at Sandra’s 50th birthday celebration, her friends asked what she wanted on the cake and she said “Happy Birthday to a beautiful woman.” Sadly, Sandra Bush passed away in 2012. And yet, through her daughter’s art and this short documentary, it’s clear that Mama Bush will life on forever through the people that loved her dearly.

-Joshua Kaye