In "Mother and Son" Sokurov used special lenses, distorting mirrors placed on the sides of the camera, and painted glass set directly in front of the lens to create his unique dreamlike world.
Nick Cave wrote a review of the film for the Indepent on Sunday in March 29, 1998. It was titled as "I wept and wept, from start to finish".
The dreamy landscapes of the film have been compared to the work of Caspar David Friedrich.
On the "Opie & Anthony" radio show, comedian Louis C.K. talked about seeing this film at the famous Castro Theater in San Francisco. Incorrectly remembering the title as "Father and Mother", he described it as a Russian film in which nothing happens for long periods of time. He also said that it was worth giving the benefit of the doubt because it was interesting and he'd never seen anything like it.