Kim Hye-Ja plays one of cinema's most unconventional detectives in Bong Joon-Ho's underseen modern noir Mother. Though the director's more famous for smart high-concept pictures like The Host and this year's Snowpiercer, Mother is an understated masterclass in mystery and suspense and sees Kim's working-class, put-upon mum trying to prove her troubled son's innocence for a murder he's charged with committing. Over the course of the film she puts herself in a variety of dangerous situations all for the unconditional love of an arguably undeserving child and never once backs down in her efforts to reunite her family, no matter how grim things get or how many dark secrets she uncovers. It's the actress' incredible fortitude and dedication to her task despite seeming frail and world-weary that endears her to the film's viewers, proving that bravery comes in all shapes and sizes. If every mother felt about their child the way this one does about hers we'd all be very lucky indeed. Especially if we plan on getting framed for murder.
