Writer-slash-director Bong Joon-ho (The Host) delivers his most mature work to date, a brilliant character study that revolves around a desperate, valiant mother who attempts to save her only son framed for murder. Joon-ho’s films continue to amaze, here, he once again changes up the tone and the mechanics of the common narratives we commonly associate with genre films from Korea, and with Mother, Joon-ho holds the viewer’s attention from the very first frame till the very last, fusing dramatic currents with not so common murder mystery elements. At the core of the film lies an astonishing performance by actress Kim Hye-ja, reminding us that greatness comes in the unlikeliest of packages.
Yama Rahimi: Tell me how this project came about?
Bong Joon-ho: I started the project for the main actress, Kim Hye-ja. I wrote the screenplay for her. Not many outside of Korea knows her but she’s an icon in Korea. Growing up, I would always see her on TV from early school years until later. She was always a good mother figure. It might seem weird… but I always thought there was another hidden side to her which I wanted to explore and that’s how the project came about. So in 2004 soon after I made “Memories of Murder” I met her for the first time for about 10 minutes. I didn’t have full script but pitched my project which she liked it and wanted to explore as well, to do something different.
Rahimi: It’s interesting you bring up “Memories of Murder” because there are certain elements of that film that reoccur in this film as well. It looked to me as you were going back to the setting of that film but now it makes sense that you were in that mindset from the beginning.
Boon-ho: I worked on it before I made “The Host,” so you could say I worked on both projects concurrently.
Rahimi: Kim Hye-ja was phenomenal in the film – she gives a flawless performance. While I loved the film which was already great, I was very impressed with the ending which blew me away. Even without the ending, the film would have been solid but it takes the film to another level. I think it’s easy to have a great beginning but it’s rare to have a great ending which I always look out for. Was it in the script from the beginning?
Boon-ho: Well I started writing in 2004 and finished it in 2008, so it took me four years to finish it but the ending was always there and it never changed even when I shared the idea with Kim Hye-ja. The goal of the project was to show how far maternal love goes or can go. So it was not as much about the son as it was the mother’s reaction to her son’s actions.
Rahimi: Tell me about the film’s submission to Cannes. The sentiment amongst my critic friends and critics in general was that the film should have been in the main competition. What’s your opinion?
Boon-ho: Of course I was disappointed that the film was not selected for the official competition but there were a lot of masters who had new films that were selected instead like Lars Von Trier, Michael Haneke, Jane Campion and so on. So I understood the situation and was happy to be included in the UN CERTAIN REGARD section. Before the festival, the films are sorted in the different sections whether official or not but after the screenings, all the films are in the same position by how they are received by the critics, buyers and the audience. I had a great experience with “The Host” at the Director’s Fortnight on how it was received so I have no complains whatsoever. For me it was important to have the film shown to as many people as possible and I had a great time. I only felt sorry for Kim Hye-ja who was shut out for any consideration to be considered for her performance.
Rahimi: Would you consider working in Hollywood? Did you have any offers?
Boon-ho: After “The Host”, there were some suggestions from Hollywood from my agency who sent me scripts but so far nothing has interested me. I had a great experience in Japan with Japanese actors so I could work anywhere but also had 100% creative control and final cut approval as I have in Korea which I’m not sure I will have in Hollywood where the studios and producers have more control. I know that’s very difficult to obtain in Hollywood so from that regard I’m not sure yet whether I will work there.
Rahimi: How about remakes of your work? Are you open about that? How do you feel about it?
Boon-ho:: The remake rights to “The Host” is already sold to Universal and heard that a famous director is attached as the producer with a British commercial director to direct it. Anyway I have nothing to do with it and I don’t care. All the remake and sequel rights belonged to the production company who have sold it. Since they have done a lot for me, I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me. I have a lot of new ideas that I want to explore so I am not interested with what I have already done.
Rahimi: I’m sure the same will happen with “Mother” which will be a great role for any actress to play. It’s a universal character that could be remade into different cultures. I could see a remake with Meryl Streep in the US.
Boon-ho: There are some talks going around but nothing has finalized yet as far as I know.
Rahimi: Which filmmakers or films have inspired you?
Boon-ho:: Well there’s a lot of filmmakers whose films I like since I’m a movie buff. My mentor was Kim Ki-young, a Korean master of the 60’s and 70’s. His movies are very unique and grotesque. If he were in Spain, he would be like Luis Buñuel. Martin Scorsese presented his “The Housemaid” at the Cannes Classics. I also like the work of Japanese directors Shohei Imamura and Kiyoshi Kurosawa as well as the US cinema of the 1970’s such as “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Jaws.”
Rahimi: What’s your favorite films on all time? Maybe your Top 5 or 10 films that you can watch over and over?
Boon-ho:: That’s a very difficult question but I watched “Vengeance Is Mine” by Imamura which is based on an actual serial killer in Japan when I made “Memories of Murder.” I also loved “Zodiac” by David Fincher. I can tell you my favorite serial killer movies. “Vengeance Is Mine,” “Zodiac,” “Deep Crimson,” by Mexican master Arturo Ripstein, also based on a true story. I loved “Silence of the Lambs” by Jonathan Demme, a real modern classic. I like serial killer films.
Rahimi: What’s next for you?
Boon-ho:: It’s a dark Sci-fi film based on a French graphic novel with English working title “Snow Piercer“. It’s set in the future where most of Earth is covered with ice and snow and the only survivors are on a train who fight each other. I’m writing the script at the moment.
Magnolia Pictures releases Mother in theaters March 12th.
Yama Rahimi is IONCINEMA.com’s West Coast correspondent. He is a filmmaker and producer currently in post production on his documentary film.
