THE MOTHER AND THE BEAR
When her grown daughter Sumi has a bad fall in Winnipeg, anxious widow Sara (Kim Ho-jung) travels from Korea to be with her — and discovers she doesn’t really know Sumi at all.
Johnny Ma brings TIFF 2024 audiences a story where motherhood and meddling collide in a spectacularly magical fashion. Following a slip and fall on the ice, Sumi’s mother, Sara, arrives from Korea filled with worry and judgment. THE MOTHER AND THE BEAR is akin to a late-stage coming-of-age film, where an estranged mother-daughter blossoms in surprising ways.
Kim Ho-jung is magnificent. Sara’s journey spans motherhood, friendship, sleuthing, romance, and identity. Ho-jung embodies silliness, anxiety, boldness, and worldly naivete. She masters each moment with ceaseless charm. She is a star.
The film delves into culture, generational gaps, and familial boundaries with stunning levity. The score is lovely. Ma utilizes fantasy elements such as childish animation and slow-motion sequences. Sound editing plays a huge role in the film’s whimsical nature, with magical windchimes highlighting essential moments in Sara’s thought process. Ma gives her a loveable quality that is nothing short of captivating. Even if we cringe at her scheming, the audience roots for her growth at every turn. THE MOTHER AND THE BEAR is an undeniable gem at this year’s festival.
https://tiff.net/events/the-mother-and-the-bear
Sook-Yin Lee
Joseph Kahn
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