By Julian Cao
Directed by Hong Ejun, Mother is a riveting animated short film that abounds with vibrant colors and is underpinned by a sweet, melancholy melody interspersed with chimes.
The vast majority of the film predicates on an ever-ticking clock, on which an elderly man on a wheelchair revisits certain memories of his life: When he was a young boy, his mother’s death left him bereft: He grew up and reached pivotal milestones in his life without her, from graduation to marriage, and so forth; all that while, her missing presence was keenly felt. Only in death could he reunite with his late mother.
The animation is exceptional. The moving parts of the clock flow seamlessly from one to the next, mirroring the various stages of life. The radiant blues and yellows ensure that the viewer’s eyes do not stray from the screen.
Mother is a poignant reminder of love and loss. I commend the filmmaker, Ejun Hong, for her heartwarming tribute to her grandfather: the elderly man in a wheelchair. The film, bolstered by consummate artistry, provides a profusion of emotions that will linger in the viewer’s mind long after its conclusion. Mother stirs the soul.
I would give this film 5/5.
Don’t Miss Mother, now screening on Planet Classroom.
Julian Cao graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Film from California State University, Long Beach. Currently, Julian is the Marketing Director of Sylvan Learning Center of Huntington Beach, and an intern for CMRubinWorld, Shenandoah Film Collaborative, and Tsang and Associates.
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