Mother (2009) - Movies Like Parasite | Filmiway

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Why This Class War Film Matters

Mother reveals how class prejudice corrupts justice. Poor defendants are assumed guilty while mothers obsessively protect their children against a rigged system.

Mother

2009•Bong Joon Ho•120 min•R

The Experience

A mentally challenged young man is accused of murder. His mother—overprotective and obsessive—launches her own investigation. But the deeper she digs, the more horrifying truths emerge. Bong Joon Ho's twisted maternal thriller reveals a woman whose love has curdled into something monstrous.

Cast & Crew

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Goo

Production Details

Budget: $5 million

Box Office: $14.8 million

Age Rating:R
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Clean Content Record

Mother: No sexual content or graphic scenes present in this film.

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INTENSITY GRAPH

Narrative Analysis
Incident(30%)
Arrest(55%)
Investigation(70%)
Truth(85%)
Dance(90%)
Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Thriller: 50%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Drama: 30%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%Mystery: 20%

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CINEMATIC DNA

Genre Analysis
Thriller
50%
Drama
30%
Mystery
20%

Genre DNA Distribution

  • Thriller: 50%
  • Drama: 30%
  • Mystery: 20%

Movie Intensity Arc

  • Minute 15: Incident (30/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 45: Arrest (55/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 75: Investigation (70/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 105: Truth (85/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 125: Dance (90/100 Intensity)

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FAQ About Mother

Common questions about Mother and its exploration of class warfare and social inequality.

Is the son actually guilty?

Yes. The twist reveals that the mentally disabled son, Do-joon, did kill the girl, albeit perhaps misunderstanding the situation. The horror of the film is not his guilt, but the lengths his mother goes to—murdering a witness and framing an innocent man—to protect him.

What does the opening and closing dance symbolize?

The mother's dance represents a descent into madness and a desperate attempt to shake off the pain of her reality. It bookmarks the film: in the beginning, it's an expression of her chaotic life; at the end, it is a hypnotic, acupuncture-induced trance to forget the monstrous crimes she committed.

How does the acupuncture theme fit the story?

The mother is an unlicensed acupuncturist who claims to hit 'memory points' to help people forget bad memories. This is the central theme: willful ignorance. To survive and live with herself, she chooses to erase the truth, physically and metaphorically closing her eyes to her son's nature.

How does this compare to traditional mother figures?

Bong Joon Ho subverts the 'sacrificial mother' trope. Instead of a noble protector, she becomes a monster. Her maternal instinct is so intense it bypasses all morality. The film asks a terrifying question: Is a mother's love a form of unconditional good, or can it be a destructive, selfish force?

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Curated by Filmiway Editorial Team

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