Madeo

English title: Mother

Genre: crime drama

With: Hye-ja Kim (Mother), Won Bin (her son Yoon Do-joon), Jin Goo (Jin-tae, Do-joon’s friend), Je-mun Yun (Je-moon), Mi-seon Jeon (Mi-sun), Sae-byeok Song (Sepaktakraw Detective), Yeong-seok Lee (Junk Shop Elder), Hee-ra Mun (Moon Ah-jeong), Woo-hee Chun (Mi-na)

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Screenplay: Bong Joon Ho and Eun-kyo Park (based on Bong Joon Ho’s story)

Release: 2009

Studio: CJ Entertainment, Barunson E&A

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 8.6/10 

 

I Guess It Runs in the Family 

 

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Story-line: Bong Joon Ho’s film transports us to a South Korean town where ‟Mother” tries to make ends meet by selling herbs and stuff while watching over Do-joon, her mentally-challenged son who has a knack for getting into trouble. On this particular day, Do-joon is run over by a speeding Mercedes – right in front of Mother’s shop – and luckily comes out of it unharmed. The real trouble begins when he tries to find the driver with the help of his friend Jin-tae.

Pluses: convincing acting by Hye-ja Kim (as the sympathetic, resourceful Mother), Won Bin (her frustrating son) and Jin Goo (the suspicious-looking Jin-tae), good support from a competent cast (playing mostly untrustworthy types), expert direction that wastes no time and stages the mystery effectively, a creative and brilliant screenplay, clean cinematography, satisfactory production values, a superb musical score (by Byung-woo Lee) and a really stupefying ending.

Minuses: none.

Comments: I remember hearing Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel – a long time ago but it’s still fresh in my memory – explain how their job as film critics was wonderful when a movie is good but excruciating when it’s a dud. Not being a professional critic, I don’t have to watch everything out there… and I’m rather fussy about the films I watch. So rest assured, movie buffs: MOTHER is one motion picture you will rave – and not rage – about. Easy on the eyes, nourishing for the mind and intriguing till the very end, Bong Joon Ho’s work is astounding as well as devastating. Never discount a mother’s instincts… and an offbeat movie like this one.  

 

MBiS 

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Mio fratello è figlio unico

English title: My Brother is an Only Child

Genre: comedy drama

With: Riccardo Scamarcio (Manrico), Elio Germano (Accio), Angela Finocchiaro (their mother Amelia), Massimo Popolizio (their father Ettore Benassi), Alba Rohrwacher (their sister Violetta), Diane Fleri (Francesca), Luca Zingaretti (Mario Nastri), Anna Bonaiuto (Bella, Mario’s wife), Vittorio Emanuele Propizio (Teenage Accio), Ascanio Celestini (Father Cavalli), Claudio Botosso (Prof. Montagna), Ninni Bruschetta (Bombacci)

Director: Daniele Luchetti

Screenplay: Daniele Luchetti, Sandro Petraglia and Stefano Rulli (adapted from Antonio Pennacchi’s novel)

Release: 2008

Studio: Cattleya, ThinkFilm, Warner Bros. Pictures

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.3/10 

 

A Fascist Can Be Quite Handy Around the House 

 

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Story-line: Italy, 1962. Accio, an impetuous and anguished young man, is looking for a way to channel his energy. Should he become a seminarian? Try as he may, he’s not destined for it. Work in a factory? His father forbids it. Undertake classical studies? It’s OK for his sister but not for him. Frustrated, impatient, he surrenders to a new passion, hard-core fascism, much to the dismay of his left-leaning brother Manrico.

Pluses: good acting from Elio Germano (incredibly enough, he makes fascism look cool!), Riccardo Scamarcio, Diane Fleri and a fine cast, brisk direction, a breathless, no-holds-barred screenplay that twists and turns at a furious pace, lovely cinematography, production values that are gorgeously retro and an atypical ending.

Minuses: none I can think of.

Comments: MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD, a companion to Lina Wertmüller’s quirky works, makes fun of dysfunctional families and the contradictions of life. It also deals with serious issues – political rivalries, sibling loyalty, among others – in an ironic and incisive way. The adventures of the Benassi family are one more example of how life works in mysterious ways, sometimes for the better. An exhilarating, unpredictable watch for movie buffs! 

 

MBiS 

© 2024 – All rights reserved