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A Mother Investigates a Killing
Bong Joon Ho’s 2009 drama “Mother” follows a woman who launches her own investigation after her son is arrested on suspicion of murder. Written by Bong and Park Eun-kyo, the 128-minute film opened in South Korea on May 28, 2009, with an adults-only rating.
Kim Hye-ja stars as a mother who works at an herbal medicine shop in a small town and devotes her life to her 28-year-old son, Yoon Do-joon, played by Won Bin. Do-joon struggles to care for himself and frequently gets into trouble. When a girl is killed in their community, police arrest him as a suspect.
Convinced of her son’s innocence, the mother takes matters into her own hands after police move quickly to close the case and an attorney proves ineffective. Her search for the real killer drives a story that combines a murder investigation with an intense examination of the bond between parent and child.
Jin Goo plays Do-joon’s friend Jin-tae. The cast also includes Yoon Je-moon, Jeon Mi-seon, Song Sae-byeok, Jung Young-ki and Choi Jae-won. Barunson E&A produced the film, and CJ ENM distributed it.
From Cannes to the International Festival Circuit
“Mother” premiered on the international stage in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, where Bong, Kim and Won appeared on the red carpet. It was later invited to special presentations at the Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the New York Film Festival.
The film also competed at the San Sebastián and Mar del Plata festivals and was selected for events in Rotterdam, London, Vancouver and Chicago, as well as the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest.
Its international honors included the SIGNIS Award at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, the East Meets West Cinema Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Arri-Zeiss Award at the Munich International Film Festival. Bong and Park also received the screenplay award for an Asia-Africa feature at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Kim won best actress at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. At the Asian Film Awards, “Mother” received best film and best screenplay, while Kim again won best actress. She also received the best foreign-film actress award at China’s Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.
Recognition in the United States
Kim’s performance brought the film particular attention in the United States. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association named her best actress, making her the first Korean performer to win a lead acting prize from the group.
In 2011, critics groups in Boston, San Francisco, Kansas City, central Ohio and the southeastern United States were among the organizations that honored “Mother” in foreign-language film categories. The Online Film Critics Society and the Women Film Critics Circle also recognized the movie.
“Mother” became the first Korean film nominated for best foreign film at the Independent Spirit Awards. South Korea selected it as the country’s entry for the foreign-language film category at the 82nd Academy Awards. It also reached the initial field for the Golden Globe foreign-language film award but did not become a final nominee.
Honors at Home and Lasting Appeal
In South Korea, “Mother” won best film and lighting honors at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, while Jin Goo received the supporting actor prize. The Buil Film Awards honored the movie for best film, cinematography and music, with Kim winning best actress. The Busan Film Critics Awards and Korean Association of Film Critics Awards also named it best film and recognized Kim’s performance.
Lee Byung-woo’s score won the film music category at the Korean Music Awards. In Japan, the film received the foreign film prize at the Nikkan Sports Film Awards.
According to the Korean Film Council’s box-office tracking system, “Mother” had recorded 2,973,710 admissions by July 12, 2009. South Korea reports theatrical performance primarily through admissions rather than ticket revenue.
The film remains notable for bringing together Bong’s direction, the screenplay by Bong and Park, and Kim’s widely honored performance. Its central tension — a mother’s determination to prove her son innocent while uncovering the truth behind a killing — gives the movie both the momentum of a crime story and the emotional weight of a family drama.
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