The Film
Director Bong Joon-ho (The Host) really isn't a household name in the U.S. That may change, thanks to his 2009 release, Mother.
Mother is an interesting tale of unconditional love. Even though we never learn Mother's name, the actress portraying her is Kim Hye-ja. It's not an easy name to pronounce, but it's one you'll want to remember. She is excellent in the lead role. In the film, her son Do-joon (Won Bin) is wrongfully accused of murdering a local teen girl. At least you think he is -- and you'd better, or Mother will open up a can of whoop-ass on you. She's like a crazy cat lady, as many mothers would be in this situation.
Mother is shot really well. It's not a big-budget movie, by any means, but it does manage to draw you in with interesting imagery and a killer (no pun intended) performance by Kim Hye-Ja. Most likely Mother isn't on your radar, but, much like your real mom, deserves some attention.
The Picture
We have to confess that we weren't expecting a whole lot from Mother. However, our opinion quickly changed during the opening shot. It shows a vast wheat field, which doesn't have a whole lot of pop in the color department, but it pretty much sets the tone for the movie -- both literally and figuratively. It's a bit weird and wonderful, and so is this 2.35:1 transfer. Overall, the colors are muted and the black levels could use a little boost. That does take away from some of the details, but it really works here.
The Sound
If you aren't into subtitles, you're not going to like Mother. Magnolia has only included the Korean DTS-HD Master Audio track; there's no English (or other) dub. Much of that Korean track relies heavily on the front speakers. That's not surprising, since the film is mainly dialogue. The track does include plenty of ambient noises, such as screams, screeching tires and raindrops, to envelop the viewer. The audio really adds realism and a bit of suspense to the Mother experience.
The Extras
Magnolia has managed to pack in everything you've always wanted to know about Mother. The making-of featurette alone dedicates a whopping 90 minutes to the film's production. From there, the release has shorts on cinematography, music, and even its various actors. Kudos to the studio for not skimping; it's probably one of the best selections we've seen from a foreign release. This is a comprehensive, very well thought out crop of shorts.
Final Thoughts
Mother probably doesn't register on your list of must-see Blu-rays, but it should. It's well acted and a good movie overall. Even better, it's extremely interesting to watch -- and watch you must, unless you are fluent in Korean.
Product Details
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