In Then She Found Me Alison Masters discovers the perfect tear-jerker for Mother’s Day

This romantic tear-jerker, adapted from Elinor Lipman’s novel of the same name, sees Helen Hunt in her feature directing debut, as well as give a refined performance in the lead role.

Hunt plays school teacher April Epner, who encounters a painful separation from her husband and the death of her adopted mother, and soon after is contacted by her birth mother, Bernice Graves – the brilliant Bette Midler.

Bernice is a local talk show host and far from the model mother; her first meeting with April adds some subtle humour to the film as she suffocates her newfound daughter with endless, somewhat inappropriate, questions and relays her fantasies of making up for lost years.

News Shopper: The film is Helen Hunt's directorial debut

Not surprisingly, April is cautious of this stranger wanting instant access to every tiny detail of her life but as Bernice persists, we see a touching bond unfold.

Alongside this is April’s relationship with the father of one of her pupils, played by romantic-comedy staple Colin Firth.

Hunt’s portrayal of a woman desperate for her own child pulls at the heart strings, but that’s not to say this should be written off as a weepy chick-flick.

Then She Found Me unravels intricate personalities, each one as believable as it is engaging, and a substantial plot which, although no Oscar-winner, earns the film some solid credibility.

News Shopper: Matthew Broderick also stars

Firth is his usual charming Englishman self and although it’s refreshing to see him given a new affliction as a single parent, you can’t help but feel this is simply a further ploy to provoke sympathy for the hard-done-by character from an impressionable audience.

This sympathy is only exaggerated by Matthew Broderick’s contrasting character as April’s ex-husband, who seems to get less and less appealing throughout the film and by the end you find yourself cheering shamelessly for team Firth.

With Mothers’ Day just around the corner, you can’t go far wrong with this mum-friendly DVD which you’ll probably even enjoy too.

Then She Found Me(15) out now.