Greek Mothers Never Die

Title: Greek Mothers Never Die (2025)
Director: Rachel Suissa
Writer: Rachel Suissa
Studio: RAD Pictures // Gravitas Ventures

IMDb Plot: Ella yearns to escape her overbearing Greek mother and her unsuccessful life. However, everything changes when her mother unexpectedly passes away, only to return as a neurotic ghost. Ella now feels haunted and helpless, until her former flame Nick reenters her life and compels her to envision love and freedom. Together, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, empowering Ella to seize control of her own destiny.

Joe Says: A cheeky, indie rom-com that serves up feta-fresh laughs with a side of intergenerational trauma. Also one that could have used a little extra spice. Or at least a stiff glass of ouzo.

Ella’s life is a modern day Greek tragedy complete with iPhones, ghost moms, and an urgent need for therapy. Her dad’s deceased, her bestie bailed, and she’s stuck in Florida of all places. But her biggest problem? Her overbearing Greek mother… who’s still micromanaging from the afterlife. All Ella wants is to do a little dance, make a little love, and get down tonight… preferably with someone not named Stavros.

Greek Mothers Never Die is a cheeky, indie rom-com that serves up feta-fresh laughs with a side of intergenerational trauma. Written, directed, and starring Rachel Suissa, this meta-comedy is part stand-up, part sitcom, and 100% Greek mom chaos.

Greek Mothers Never Die by Rachel Suissa

Suissa plays Despina, a widow who cannot stop hovering over her daughter Ella (played with charming exasperation by Abby Miner). Despina is a full-blown Olympian chariot of parental angst. Her obsession with warding off cancer, bad men, and souvlaki borders on mythic.

When Despina’s Chicken Little antics finally result in a fatal heart attack (oh the irony), her ghost remains behind to give Ella a heavenly push. For Ella, this is hell.

Suissa milks the absurdity — and mostly lands it. Her chemistry with Miner crackles like oil on a hot spanakopita pan. Their mother-daughter dynamic is part battle, part therapy session, and somehow, still sweet. But the satire remains reserved. The film could’ve gone full Greek chorus with comedic chaos, yet it opts for sitcom-safe instead. Even the included musical numbers are more questionable karaoke than Tommy Lee cool.

The film balances Ella’s identity quest while dueling with her undead mother and her rekindled spark with childhood crush Nick (Simon Rérolle). As with the comedy, their romantic arc has heart but lacks a lusty passion. Fortunately, Miner shares a comfortable chemistry with Rérolle in a similar style as she does with Suissa. Her star truly shines here.

Greek Mothers Never Die starring Abby Miner, Rachel Suisa

To address the falafel in the room: yes, this film knows Nia Vardalos’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a subgenre to be reckoned with and it isn’t afraid to cheer OPA! to the influence. But instead of recycling jokes, Suissa offers a Gen-Z remix — more meta, less patriarchal, and way more existential dread.

Released just in time for Mother’s Day, Greek Mothers Never Die is the perfect pick for moms, daughters, and anyone whose parent ever called five times in one day “just to check in.” This is a funny, quirky love letter to the complicated moms in everyone’s lives.

Bottom line: Greek Mothers Never Die is a tasty little comedy snack — but one that needs a little extra spice. Or at least a stiff glass of ouzo.