4. Mother (2009)
Maternal revenge rears its head time and again in Korean cinema but truth be told, Bong Joon-ho's Mother has so many little instances of revenge that it's almost bursting at the seams. Old habits have dire consequences, while much of the action is motivated by a desire to protect rather than to exact revenge but the small acts of retaliation are what set everything into motion and create a vicious, unbreakable cycle of tragic violence.
Kim Hye-ja's nervy and imploring performance steals the show, while Bong Joon-ho's eclectic and vibrant mise-en-scene brings this dark and morbidly humorous tale to life. A stunning work that rewards multiple viewings.
Reviews and features on Korean film appear regularly on Modern Korean Cinema. For film news, external reviews, and box office analysis, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update, Korean Cinema News and the Weekly Korean Reviews, which appear weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (Korean Standard Time).
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