Watch Goodbye Mom
- 2009
- 1 hr 51 min
-
6.6 (144)
Goodbye Mom is a 2009 South Korean drama film directed by Jeong Gi-hoon, which tells the heartwarming and bittersweet story of a woman who dies, but finds a way to return back to her family. The movie stars Kang-hee Choi, Yeong-ae Kim, and Soo-bin Bae in lead roles. The movie opens with a young woman named Ae-ja (played by Kang-hee Choi) who lives in a remote village in South Korea with her two children and her husband, who works as a construction worker in the city. Ae-ja's life is simple, yet filled with love and happiness, until she suddenly dies due to a traffic accident.
After her death, Ae-ja's spirit finds itself in an unknown place. She quickly realizes that she is a ghost and that she is no longer alive. As she wanders around, she discovers that she has been given an opportunity to return to earth for a few days, to spend time with her family and say goodbye to them. However, there's a catch. She can only return in the body of another woman.
Ae-ja's spirit eventually finds a young woman named Su-ah (played by Yeong-ae Kim), who has a severe brain injury and is basically brain dead. Su-ah's family is on the verge of giving up on her, but Ae-ja's spirit decides to enter Su-ah's body and use it as a vessel to return to the living world.
Ae-ja's family is shocked to see Su-ah back in the house, but they soon realize that something is different about her. Su-ah, who was previously unable to speak or move, now seems to be communicating with them in Ae-ja's voice. Slowly but surely, Ae-ja's family realizes that Su-ah is actually the vessel through which Ae-ja's spirit has returned to spend time with them.
As Ae-ja spends time with her family, she sees how much life has changed in her absence. Her children have grown up, her husband is struggling to keep the family together, and her mother-in-law has become distant and cold. Despite the difficult situations, Ae-ja shows a deep love and appreciation for her family, and she tries to bring them closer together, even if it is only for a short time.
Throughout the movie, Ae-ja is torn between staying with her family and letting go, knowing that her time on Earth is limited. She finds herself caught in a dilemma, as she sees how much she is needed by her family, but also understands that her spirit must move on to the afterlife.
The movie's pacing is slow, yet engaging, and the performances are outstanding, with each actor bringing a deep emotional range to their roles. Kang-hee Choi, who plays Ae-ja, gives a fantastic performance as a mother who loves her family more than anything in the world, and is willing to do whatever it takes to see them happy. Yeong-ae Kim, who plays Su-ah, is also remarkable, portraying a character who has lost everything, but is given a second chance at life through Ae-ja's spirit.
In conclusion, Goodbye Mom is a heartwarming and poignant movie that beautifully portrays the love between a mother and her family. It serves as a reminder of how much we should cherish our relationships with our loved ones, as we never know when we might lose them. If you're a fan of the drama genre or enjoy movies about family and love, then this film is definitely worth watching.