National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free

‘Mam’
It’s a paradox that significant, enjoyable opportunities for women often occur during periods of dire stress for their men (e.g. WWII, the miners’ strike of 1984/85).
From the collection of:

Overview
Rachel Thomas, the archetypal 'Mam', is seen playing the role once more in this history of the Valleys' mother from the repercussions of the 'Blue Books' of 1847 through to the miners’ strike of 1984/85. Historians, mothers and daughters discuss the responsibilities and restrictions of this role, which women have not often had a chance to shape for themselves, and hope that certain freedoms so recently won will be retained and built upon by future generations.
Diana Bianchi, Angela John and G A Williams present the historical context for the notion of the mother as the 'angel in the home'. Actresses Rachel Thomas and Sharon Morgan enact various scenes to illustrate the lives of mothers over a period of 150 years and Rachel Thomas is also seen playing the part of a mother in clips from two films - 'Proud Valley' and 'Blue Scar'. Women from the valleys (Dora Cox, Lavinia Davies, Maggie Jones, Alice Boxall, Iris Waite, Esme Kitto, Sian James, Glynnis Evans, Pam Thomas, Jean Williams, Ellen Cronin, Julie Rees, Mair Francis and Shirley Powell) speak of their own and their mothers' lives in relation to, and as subject to, the politics of the time in which they live or lived.
Related

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.

Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.

Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.