You’re never too old to grow up.
In The Mother and the Bear, Sara (Kim Ho-jung) is an overbearing mother lives in Seoul. However, after her 26-year-old daughter, Sumi (Leere Park) suffers a devastating accident in wintry Winnipeg, Sara uproots her life and flies to Canada to support her. Believing that this would not have happened to Sumi if she were in a relationship, Sara attempts to meddle in her daughter’s life while she’s in hospital through the use of dating apps. However, as Sara’s experiment begins to bear fruit, her navigation of the new digital frontier will change her in ways she never imagined.
One simply cannot avoid falling in love with The Mother and the Bear. Directed by Johnny Ma, the film is buried in under an avalanche of charm and sweetness. With humour and heart, it celebrates culture while challenging assumptions without ever feeling antagonistic.
This is very much the story of a one woman’s coming-of-age journey during the later years of her life. Stepping in to the harsh cold of Winnipeg winter, Sara finds herself feeling frozen in time. Holding on tightly to her way of viewing the world, she immediately becomes immersed in the modern world. Whereas Sara clings to her culture, language, traditional family structures, she quickly discovers that things operate differently here. Lost in a space of feminine independence and sexual empowerment, Sara is forced to try and understand her daughter’s life without her physical presence.
Obviously, the results of this sort of ‘fish out of water’ scenario leads to some delightful comedy. (For example, the moment with the… ahem… neck massager is highly entertaining.) But truly, these moments work because they’re simply steeped in innocence. Sara’s confusion about relationships in the ‘big city’ stem from a clash of cultural narratives that simply stem from misunderstanding. This is new territory for her and provides an opportunity that she didn’t expect. She likes the way things were for when she was growing up. But now, she’s trying to learn what life is like for her daughter now.
And there’s something beautiful about the simple messaging of The Mother and the Bear as well. Sara’s interaction with dating apps, sexual identity and other aspects of her daughter’s life open her eyes with compassion and love. Here, the rules are different and she’s forced to adapt. Yes, there’s still joy for her own culture. But slowly, the Winnipeg cold begins to melt her icy heart.
In short, this is a film that celebrates ‘kindness in the cold’.
In these moments, Kim Ho-jung absolutely sparkles as she brings Sara to life. Even though Sara believes she knows what’s best, Kim sets an inexperience behind her eyes that is constantly challenged. In every moment, we watch as she questions, challenges and learns how to interact with the world around her with compassion. Although buoyed by some delightful performances by Amara Pedroso, Jonathan Kim and the utterly delightful Won-jae Lee, it’s still Kim that shines most brightly in the dark Winnipeg winter.
Backed by Kim Ho-jung’s incredible performance, The Mother and the Bear feels joyfully authentic. This is a film that honours Sara’s Korean heritage and upbringing but recognizes the ways that traditions can change with location and the passage of time. Sara’s journey of love and self-expression is fueled by charismatic grace that will warm even the coldest heart.
The Mother and the Bear is available in theatres on Friday, January 9th, 2026.
