My Mother, the Mermaid (2004) User Reviews

One modest and touching movie

[jpsosa · 7/10 · 22 November 2006]

We've already seen this story in movies like "Peggy Sue" or "Back to the Future" and somehow the movie make worthwhile watch again the same plot about returning to the past and watch, understand – and even feel sorry for – the present.

By my first words on this commentary I guess I haven't to go much further summarizing this film's story. After her father goes back to his birth land to die, daughter of these complicated parents quit her plans of traveling abroad and go after her father. Somewhere, somehow, in the middle of her search she goes back to the past and watch how her parents become in love with each other.

The synopsis doesn't sound very attractive, the movie isn't creative, actually, but somehow the same old idea works once more here. There is depth in the characters, discreetly showed by their actions – even the most ludicrous ones – and at the same time an unashamedly taste for sentimentalism that attracted me and built all the fun in the movie. And the human aspect of the movie doesn't appeal us less than the capacity of amusement. First, in the present, we see this couple drowned in a relationship that we have any idea of "why" does they keep on trying to live together, since there's nothing between them beside fights, fights and fights. Then the movie goes on and we have the chance to see the beginning of the relationship. It was sweet, funny and lovely the way they cared for each other in the smallest things, the innocence of a so obvious love that try so hard and so unsuccessfully to hide itself. That's when the movie is able to thrill us. So we are back to the present again and once more we see (and it's so painful to watch) how such delicate love turns into something bitter, where each action and word is poisoned by bitterness and frustration. In any moment the movie give us the explanation for this transformation or to "how the girl could go back to the past"? It give us a hint when we see again one picture (a detail important on the movie) almost in the end – and that made me conclude that, yeah, it was a dream… but at least the director or screenwriter noticed how would be insulting to the viewers point the obvious.

The weakest parts are the ones that take place in the present, where the photography and performances are impregnated by an annoying realism. But it doesn't spoil the whole movie and it's still able to thrill and amuse one.

Two and a half stars. Not a flashy film.

[Ulrich-Serenus-R · 6/10 · 16 April 2014]

Hey you amazing guys there, Finally today I was able to complete this beautiful movie My Mother the Mermaid (2004) "Ineo gongju" (original title). I had an on and off relationship with this movie for more than 6 months, I guess. The plot of the movie kept my interest fueled for such a long time while I could never dedicate myself to watch it all in one go. So lets review it.

Though the movie starts with a beautiful Korean girl Na-young who works at a post-master just like her dad and lives with her dad and a very harsh and sometimes unbearable mother who does not consider her husband worth a penny. Na-young sympathizes with her dad and feel bad for the way her mother treats him and often comes to his rescue as well. She even leaves her very caring orphan boyfriend quoting she has never seen a happy moment between her parents and so she believes she can never marry and be a good wife or mother.

One day when Na-young's mother curses make her father leave home, she visits the home village of her mother and witnesses that her mother was a very innocent girl at her teenage when she met her father who was working as a postman in that village some 30 years ago. Finally in the end of the movie, its shown that despite of some abusive and non caring attitude, her mother still loved her father very much.

Thats all, Na young finally marries too and has a beautiful daughter. Through the entire way, we see many beautiful scenes of some Korean island, some nice dialogues, beautiful faces, nice acting but not what the director promised us to in the starting of the movie. No mention at all anywhere what lead her mother to be so brutal and why her father could not progress at all.

Finally if you just want to pass some nice time with some beautiful sceneries, acting and direction, go for this movie OR you can just relax and search for a more meaningful movie.

Verdict: Two and a half stars. Not a flashy film.

NOTE: All my reviews are available at http://rastogisaurab29.wordpress.com/category/tv-and-movies/movie- reviews/ OR http://www.imdb.com/user/ur39556023/comments?order=date

A wonderful film

[thallinan · 9/10 · 26 February 2006]

This is a really remarkable movie about the relationships between parents and children, about time and loss, and about understanding others. Na-Young works in an office and lives with her ineffectual father and her relentlessly unpleasant, perpetually angry mother. She has no respect for her father and dislikes her mother, even though it's obvious that Na-Young is slowly becoming an unpleasant woman, too. When her father disappears, Na-Young goes back to the island where her parents met and her mother worked as a pearl fisher -- but somehow Na-Young finds herself face to face with the young women who will -- 30 years or so later -- become her mother. And no, this is not explained, and who cares? It's not like it's possible anyway. It happens. As her mother's life unfolds over a memorable few months, Na-Young is there as a friend. She sees her mother's aspirations and heartbreaks, and of course all that changes Na-Young's perspective.

But the film doesn't turn into Hallmark in Korean. There are no simple explanations for why we change as we get older, no miraculous reconciliations, no unconvincing character reversals. It's just a beautiful film about deepening our understanding of those who share our lives. It's gorgeous to look at, and the central performance -- the same actress plays both mother and daughter -- is pretty close to miraculous.

All in all, a wonderful film.

Certainly NOT one of the best ever...

[revolutioner · 29 April 2005]

It starts off extremely slowly. There are some very heartfelt scenes in the film but as a whole, it could have worked better with a more credible script.

There was never really a clear explanation of the trip Na-Young takes and HOW she meets who she meets.

There are other moments in the film that lost me completely.

With that said, some of the photography was breathtaking and Jeon Do-yeon's performance was amazing! It took me 1/3 of the film to realize she was playing more than one role!

I give it a borderline recommendation because there are more hits than misses and can see some people liking this more than I did.

It had potential, but it was hindered by a slow pacing and a rather mundane storyline...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 10 August 2019]

With the title being "My Mother the Mermaid" (aka "Ineo gongju") I must admit that I was expecting a more fantasy-styled story and movie. However, that turned out not to be the case. "My Mother the Mermaid" is a drama, pure and simple.

So with the movie being something else than I had expected, how was it? Well, regardless, I would have watched it solely for it being a South Korean movie, given my love and fascination with the Asian cinema. However, this movie was not really as impressive as I think it could have been. It seems that a lot of potential to the storyline was left behind by director Heung-sik Park. The movie definitely had lots of potential to be a real memorable movie and one that would be outstanding. However, the director failed to deliver on that aspect, and I must say that the overall result of the movie was bland and mediocre.

Sure, the movie had some really nice moments throughout the course of the one hour and fifty minutes that it ran. But the movie was simply too long, too slow paced and didn't have enough happening to keep the momentum and remain interesting. It felt like the air was slowly leaking from the movie known as "My Mother the Mermaid", and director Heung-sik Park didn't really do anything to remedy that.

The acting in the movie was spot on. Lots of really nice performances here by the cast. And they had managed to get together a nice group of talented actors and actresses to portray the various roles and characters. Just such a shame that they were given so little to work with in terms of a fulfilling script and storyline.

All throughout the movie, I was waiting for that glorious moment where the storyline would become exceptional and beautiful, perhaps even to the point where it would bring tears to the eyes. That just never happened, unfortunately. Director Heung-sik Park quickly settled into a very monotonous pace and never veered from that.

It should be said that "My Mother the Mermaid" is actually worth sitting down to watch a single time, because there are some nice aspects to the movie, and it is filmed and edited quite nicely. However, just don't go expecting a grand cinematic experience in South Korean cinema history.

One of the most beautiful movies ever

[FantasPorto · 9/10 · 8 March 2005]

This is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. The director made this film as an ode to his ( and all ) mother.

So, the movie shows us how a family lives and lived their lives, what's wrong on our behaviours, as parents or sons. This is a beautiful journey that you have, you need to take.

You will smile, mostly with that shy smile, that beautiful smile that we all have and can show at the theater, you will cry, laugh a lot ( OrAaAaite - Alright ).

You will think about your parents, about your daughters, sons.. Family. We only have one family. Please see this movie and embark in one touching and beautiful journey.. One of the best ever..

Not a mermaid movie.

[NebRonald · 5/10 · 1 January 2019]

The title is misleading. It is tagged as a fantasy movie but it is a time travel movie not a mermaid movie. It is called "My Mother The Mermaid" because the mother was an ocean diver.

It's not very good for a Korean drama. In fact it is kind of obvious the film was trying too hard to get an award. More thought was put into trying to have impressive looking nature shots than trying to make an interesting film.