Jakov, a promising student based in Zagreb, returns to his coastal hometown of Split to care for his mother, Antica, whose long-standing struggle with mental illness has taken a serious turn. Despite her deteriorating condition and suicidal ideation, Jakov resists having her hospitalized, haunted by her past traumatic experiences in the local psychiatric ward.

Within the family, tensions run high. Antica’s sister, Divna, and Jakov’s own sister, Matea, believe institutional care is the only responsible path forward. But Jakov clings to hope and guilt, desperately trying to keep his mother afloat through moments of forced joy and fragile connection. Their relationship is volatile, intimate, and emotionally charged, revealing painful truths and unresolved trauma.

As Antica’s condition worsens, her actions become increasingly erratic, culminating in a series of destabilizing events. Jakov seeks help from his estranged father, leading to a confrontation that unearths buried violence and denial. When Antica spirals beyond his reach, Jakov is finally forced to make the decision he’s dreaded most.

The film closes on a bittersweet note: a tender, imagined scene of family unity, a moment of peace that exists only in Jakov’s mind. A story of love, shame, and the limits of endurance, Mum’s alive today explores the fragility of familial bonds when mental illness seeps into every corner of life.