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The Mother And The Bear

Directed by Johnny Ma
Canada
2024
101 mins

Synopsis

In this endearing and quirky comedy, a doting Korean mother creates an online dating account for her comatose daughter, set on catfishing a boyfriend for her. Toronto 2024.

After her daughter Sumi slips on ice and is temporarily put into an induced coma, Sara (Korean actress Kim Ho-jung, in a delightfully fun performance), flies to Winnipeg to be by her side. Sara, a little old-fashioned, believes this accident would never have happened if Sumi were married. Free to scheme while her daughter sleeps, she sets up an online dating account under Sumi’s name and starts chatting away, determined to find her an ideal Korean husband. In the course of this kooky quest, Sara learns some surprising things about herself, and about Sumi too. Executive produced by Pablo Larraín, this “Winter-peg” comedy from acclaimed Chinese-Canadian director Johnny Ma is guaranteed to warm your heart.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

“Ma directs Kim with remarkable clarity in his third feature, a stylistic and thematic departure from his previous work…”
Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire

Films showing at this event

I’m The Most Racist Person I Know

When Lali unexpectedly ends up on a date with another woman of colour for the first time, ironic prejudices she has long ignored unravel. SXSW Special Jury Award Winner.

Tickets

Wed 4 June 2025, 8:15pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 3
WheelchairSubtitledAssisted Listening
Thu 5 June 2025, 12:30pm
State Theatre
WheelchairAssisted ListeningSubtitled
Sun 8 June 2025, 6pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
WheelchairAssisted ListeningSubtitled
  • Program Strand
    Features
  • Year
    2024
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    Canada, Chile
  • Language
    In English and Korean with English subtitles
  • Director
    Johnny Ma
  • Producer
    Niv Fichman, Juan de Dios Larraín
  • Cast
    Kim Ho-jung, Jonathan Kim, Won-Jae Lee
  • Screenwriter
    Johnny Ma
  • Cinematographer
    Inti Briones
  • Editor
    Valeria Hernández
  • Genre
    Women’s Stories
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    World Sales: FilmNation Entertainment

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