As quirky and original as you'd expect from the South Koreans. MOTHER is a lengthy mystery film featuring an unusual storyline about a mother who seeks justice for her unfairly imprisoned son. Along the way, there's all the kind of bizarre supporting characters, atypical incident and genuinely surprising plot twists that you'd expect from a Korean film. This is a movie that keeps you watching throughout despite the slow pacing and lack of action.

The character development is excellent: fully natural, low key throughout, and thoroughly involving. Unsurprisingly, the actors selected to pay the various characters are just right for the part, particularly Hye-ja Kim who we only ever know as 'mother'. She's a unique choice of lead and fits the role perfectly. Won Bin, who made an excellent action hero in THE MAN FROM NOWHERE, is equally excellent here as the slow-witted son and he really gets his teeth into the part.

MOTHER may be a slow burner of a film, but it has a subtle way of truly involving the viewer in the storyline. The tension builds as the climax nears, and then the movie hits you with some moments of quiet devastation that prove a shock to the core. Fans expecting another pulse-pounding thriller like THE YELLOW SEA may be disappointed, but those with open minds will have a ball.

Bong Joon-hoo follows up his "Gwoemul" ("The Host") with the equally intense "Madeo" ("Mother"). This one focuses on a matriarch's quest to exonerate her son, often resorting to extreme measures.

The main character is an elderly woman (Kim Hye-ja) in South Korea. Her impetuous son Do-joon (Won Bin) lives with her, even sharing a bed with her. At the beginning of the movie, he does something that looks as if it's based on advice from George Carlin. But when Do-joon gets charged with murdering a teenage girl, Mother is certain that he's innocent, and she sets out on her own investigation. Each step reveals something more shocking than the last.

Apparently, Kim Hye-ja has spent most of her career on TV shows, having acted in only a few movies. Well, having seen her in this one, I can affirm that she is truly a great actress. Her character loves her son, but doesn't hesitate to do some really unpleasant things (of course, she doesn't have much choice). Won Bin is pretty good as Do-joon, while Jin Goo as Do-joon's friend Jin-tae is more of a side character.

But either way, I definitely recommend this movie, and "The Host".

Was looking forward to this film after enjoying the director's earlier films, Memories of murder, The host n Snowpiercer. The film is about a mentally challenged kid who is also being overprotected by his single mother who is a specialist in herbs n acupuncture. The kid is arrested n charged with the murder of a young girl but the mother believes he is innocent n she goes out to prove his innocence. The best part about this film is the acting by the lady who played the mother. Another good aspect is the details. When the dead body of the girl is kept on the terrace of a dilapidated house for the whole town to see, we as viewers really wants to know the reason n the reason is explained towards the end well suiting. The direction n cinematography were brilliant. The only problem was the editing. Found it to be a bit slow n long.