Mother

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Movie: Mother
Revised Romanization: Madeo
Hangul: 마더
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Writer: Bong Joon-Ho, Park Eun-Kyo
Producer: Park Tae-Jun, Moon Yang-Kwon, Seo Woo-Sik
Cinematography: Hong Kyeong-Pyo
World Premiere: May 16, 2009
Release Date: May 28, 2009
Runtime: 128 min.
Production Company: Barunson Film Divsion
Distributor: CJ Entertainment
Language: South Korea
Country: Korean

Plot

Hye-ja (Kim Hye-Ja) is a long ago widowed mother who lives alone with her only son Do-jun (Won Bin). Although Do-jun is 28 years old, his mental capacity is far below someone his age and perhaps the reason for his many eccentric personality traits.

Late one night, Do-jun leaves a bar drunk and walks home. Along the way home, he follows a school girl down an alley, before a huge rock thrown his way chases him away. When he arrives home, Do-jun sleeps on the floor next to his mother like he always does.

The next day the police discover a murdered high school girl and a golf ball with Do-jun's name inscribed on it near the crime scene. With only this small bit of evidence, Do-jun is taken into custody and promptly arrested for her murder. His defense attorney looks for a quick plea bargain - which would require Do-jun to spend four years in detention - which isn't an option for Hye-ja and her only son. Faced with no other options, Hye-ja takes the initiative to prove her son's innocence.

Notes

Screenplay for "Mother" was written specifically with veteran actress Kim Hye-Ja in mind and her character is named "Hye-ja" accordingly.
As of November 10, 2008 "Mother" has completed approximately 20% of its filming. The movie has already sold distribution rights to Diaphana Films in France (previously released Secret Sunshine in 65 theatres in France) and Bitters End in Japan.
"Mother" opened #1 at the South Korean box office selling 808,898 tickets on 756 screens (43.8% of all ticket sales) during its opening weekend (May 29 - May 31).
Through its South Korean theatrical run "Mother" sold a total of 3 million tickets (grossing 19.9 billion ₩) & staying in the top ten for 6 consecutive weeks.
"Mother" was chosen as Korea's submission to compete for the Best Foreign Language Film in the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010. The other candidates were "A Frozen Flower," "Thirst," "Breathless," "Old Partner," and "Lifting King Kong."
On August 31st, 2009 Magnolia Pictures announced it has acquired North American distribution rights for "Mother".
"Mother" opened theatically for the first time outside of Korea on October 31st, 2009. For it's first week of release, "Mother" will play on 45 screens with expansion expected if reception is strong. "Mother" also held its Japanese premiere on October 27th, in Shinjuku, which was attended by first lady Miyuki Hatoyama - the wife of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Cast



Kim Hye-Ja	Won Bin	Jin Goo	Yoon Je-Moon
Hye-Ja	Do-Jun	Jin-Tae	Jae-Mun

Additional Cast Members:

Jeon Mi-Seon - Mi-Seon
Cheon Woo-Hee - Mi-Na
Jo Kyung-Sook - Mi-Na's mother
Lim Hyung-Guk
Min Kyeong-Jin
Park Myeong-Sin
Lee Mi-Do
Shin Young-Sik - taxi driver
Jung Young-Ki
Song Sae-Byeok
Yum Dong-Hyun - professor on golf course
Kwon Bum-Taek - professor driving golf cart
Hwang Young-Hee
Yeo Moo-Young - Kong Suk-Ho (lawyer)
Hong Gyung-Yun - dry cleaners woman
Kim Jin-Goo - Ah-Jung's grandmother
Kwak Byung-Kyu - charcoal fire man

Trailers

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Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2009 (62nd) Cannes Film Festival - May 13-24, 2009 - Un Certain Regard *World Premiere
2009 (34th) Toronto International Film Festival - September 10-19, 2009 - Special Presentations
2009 (28th) Vancouver International Film Festival - October 1-16, 2009 - Dragons and Tigers
2009 (14th) Pusan International Film Festival - October 8-16, 2009 - Korean Cinema Today - Panorama
2009 (29th) Hawaii International Film Festival - October 15-25, 2009 - Opening Night/Spotlight on Korea
2009 (6th) Hong Kong Asian Film Festival - October 15-30, 2009
2009 (24th) Mar del Plata Film Festival - November 7-15, 2009 - International Competition
2010 (39th) International Film Festival Rotterdam - January 27-February 7, 2010
2010 (1st) Korean Film Festival in Australia - October 1-5, 2010
2010 (12th) Cinemanila International Film Festival - December 1-5
2011 (25th) Fribourg International Film Festival - March 19-26, 2011 - Panorama: The Women Who Knew Too Much

Awards

2009 (29th) Critics Choice Awards - October 2009
- "Best Film"
- "Best Actress" (Kim Hye-Ja)
- "Best Screenplay" (Bong Joon-Ho, Park Eun-Kyo)
2009 (24th) Mar del Plata Film Festival - November 7-15, 2009
- "SIGNIS Great Award to Best Film from the International Competition"
2009 (3rd) Asia Pacific Screen Awards - November 26, 2009
- "Best Performance by an Actress" (Kim Hye-Ja)
2009 (30th) Blue Dragon Film Awards - December 2, 2009
- "Best Film"
- "Best Supporting Actor" (Jin Ku)
- "Best Lighting"
2009 (22nd) Nikkan Sports Film Awards - December 4, 2009
- "Best Foreign Picture"
2009 (32nd) Golden Cinematography Awards - December, 2009
- "Silver Medal Cinematography"
2010 (4th) Asian Film Awards - March 22, 2010
- "Best Film"
- "Best Director" (Bong Joon-Ho)
- "Best Actress" (Kim Hye-Ja)
- "Best Screenwriter" (Bong Joon-Ho, Park Eun-Kyo)
2010 (1st) Film of the Year Awards - January 27, 2010
- "Best Film"
- "Best Actress" (Kim Hye-Ja)
2010 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards - December 12, 2010
- "Best Foreign Language Film"
2010 (36th) Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards - December 12, 2010
- "Best Actress" (Kim Hye-Ja)
2010 San Francisco Film Critics Circle - December 13, 2010
- "Best Foreign Language Film"

Comments

Comment #6
Karo Says:
Jul 19 2011 12:05 pm

Wow.. This movie got so many awards. But none of them belongs to Won Bin :( He showed his versatile acting skills in this movie, though...
Anyways, Won Bin, FIGHTING!!!
Comment #5
Ester Says:
Jan 27 2011 2:21 pm

Won Bin,,not see his baby face in a movie and drama for a long time..just miss him!
Comment #4
chris Says:
Jan 03 2011 9:34 pm

i want to watch this!! so many awards, great!!
Comment #3
docalion Says:
Mar 26 2010 11:28 am

Won Bin doesn't seem to get old!!
Comment #2
Fertry Says:
Jan 21 2010 2:32 pm

woa this movie was amazing. I really loved it and Won Bin did such a great job!
Comment #1
mia Says:
Jun 02 2009 3:01 am

i think it's good movie.. i wanna watch this!..