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Mother's Job

Name: Mother's Job
Director: Do Bong-san
Released: 2017
Duration: 79 min

Representation Score

4.0/10

Fair

2017

Director

Do Bong-san

Runtime

79 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Mother's Job is a character-driven drama that examines the disruption of social boundaries and traditional domestic roles. It earns credit by challenging age and gender hierarchies through its central romantic storyline. However, the film falls short in providing multi-layered diversity. It remains rooted in a traditional dramatic framework without addressing LGBTQ+ identities or disability representation. The film's strength lies in its exploration of social taboos and the active role of its female protagonist, while it stays within a culturally specific, homogeneous context.

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Category Breakdown

Does Mother's Job have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on a heterosexual romance between Hyun-woo and Yoo-sun. It does not feature any queer narratives or characters with diverse sexual orientations or gender identities.

How does Mother's Job portray gender?

Fair

The story challenges traditional gender roles by focusing on Yoo-sun, a woman with significant social influence. She plays a key role in driving the plot by setting the conditions for the relationship and maintaining privacy.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Mother's Job?

Fair

As a South Korean production, the film operates within a specific cultural context. It does not address multi-layered racial dynamics or challenge ethnic stereotypes.

How does Mother's Job represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative explores social taboos by centering on a relationship that diverges from conventional family norms. It delves into situational ethics and the economic realities of part-time bar work.

Does Mother's Job include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities mentioned in the film.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional age and gender hierarchies through its central romantic storyline.
Provides a strong female lead who actively drives the plot.
Explores complex social taboos and the tension between private intimacy and societal expectations.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
Does not include characters with visible or invisible disabilities.
Does not engage with multi-layered racial or ethnic dynamics.

Official Synopsis

A young man falls in love with his friend's mother. Hyun-woo, who returned to the military, starts a part-time job at a bar in a difficult situation, where he meets Yoo-sun, a woman who captures the hearts of customers with her skillful ways. Then one day, Hyun-woo, who was alone with her, finds himself in a shock with his friends Min-seok and Yoo-sun. When Hyun-woo confesses the truth after a hard time, Yoo-sun asks her to keep her relationship secret. Hyun-woo, who failed to reject Min-seok's proposal to live in his own home, begins a breathtaking cohabitation with Yoo-sun.

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