*There are NO SPOILERS in this review!*
If you want to see a visually stunning and deeply moving drama, I highly recommend Mother. I shamelessly love this show more than any other.
Any faults in this review are my own and should not be taken as any reflection of the quality of this Kdrama gem.
The tldr version:
This is the story of how one little girl is saved (we hope) from an abusive home ("the gaze of a beast that bites women and children") by a woman who receives hidden help from others and, in the process, begins also to save herself. The tension comes from the many seemingly insurmountable obstacles society, family, law and predators pose along the way. We can only hope our heroes win in the end.
More detail below (still no spoilers).
Part of what makes Mother so stunning to me is the exquisite lead actress herself, Lee Bo Young. One of the most beautiful and talented women in the world (yes, I might be smitten). For further evidence of just how amazing she is, go watch I Hear Your Voice.
Quick disclaimer: I'm raising an adopted 8 year old and have worked with foster children. Because of this my review may be biased for other reasons than my very high opinion of Lee Bo Young.
Still, if you've seen her in other projects you know that playing the beleaguered hero to the downtrodden is something she does surpassingly well. And she does it with heartbreaking perfection here. Clearly a gifted actress at the top of her game. She was meant to do this.
Jeong Seo Kyeong's (Handmaiden) script is impressive to me. I've seen more than I ever wanted to of abused and neglected children. Jeong Seo Kyeong has carefully and accurately depicted how it affects everyone it touches. It scars even those who don't/can't help. I have only rarely seen a writer do this so well. And I've never seen it done with such a delicate and sensitive touch. Ever. Just wow. Juong Seo Kyeong is amazing.
Alert: If you have a heart, it will make you weep. Well, if you don't weep, your heart is made of sterner stuff than mine.
Major nod to the cinematography and editing. The visuals - not just Lee Bo Young - are a true work of art. Many Korean dramas take advantage of the beauty of the sea. But the ocean scenes in Mother are at another level. Watch the color composition and the coordination of movement with the rhythm of waves, birds and actors. Well and beautifully done.
I have to praise the other actors, too. Everyone seems to be taking this project deeply to heart and putting everything they have into it.
The biological mother and "uncle" are playing difficult parts with subtlety and without a hint of overacting or being out of sync with the delicacy of the rest of the production. That's not just a credit to them. But to the director.
Call out for Go Sung Hee. I've seen her in other shows (such as While You Were Sleeping) and been impressed by her presence and beauty. Until I saw her portrayal of the bio mom in Mother, though, I had no idea how deeply talented she is. With angles of her head and slight changes to her expression you begin to understand her character before she says a word. I can't help but believe it cost her emotionally more than a little to play this part. Yet she commits to portraying her mostly unsympathetic character unflinchingly. Wow. I'll never underestimate her again. She's gonna need - and richly deserves - a butt kicking action role after this one.
Heo Yool playing the little girl is a delight. Where they found a young girl with this kind of screen presence and craft, I don't know. But she's got skills. And, yes, I know they auditioned 400 little girls for this part.
More than anything else, I think this show makes a poignant and articulate plea for the children of the world, as well as their mothers. Voices that too often are tragically silenced or just unheard. Kudos to all involved for speaking for the helpless with such sensitivity & intelligence.
If I could, I would hug every one of those involved in this production for the love and care they have shown in creating this finely cut jewel.
A little perspective:
In South Korea, not much data is available. But at least 20,000 foster children have been counted. In the US, that number is currently above 400,000. 4 kids die in the US every day from abuse & neglect.
To other reviewers:
Please, if you just don't like the story, the subtitles, or some other piece of this drama, even if you hate the subject matter, I hope you'll still give the overall work the credit it deserves. Knock off a few stars for whatever flaws you perceive (and everyone is different, so your opinion may dramatically - pardon the pun - differ from mine). But don't drop the rating down to 1 to 5 stars for simple preference. The work itself deserves at least a 7 whether you enjoy it, agree with it or not. And pls don't knock off stars because u haven't seen it all yet. That falsely skews the perception of the show.
