I so wish that American filmmakers would have the guts to include complex, flawed characters in complex, disturbing stories like this more often.
Enough Hollywood endings.
"Empathy leads you to very bad decisions, many times." - Glenn Beck
I don't think the ending as in the killers revelation was a surprise, but I think that what happens after the revelation was! Though looking back I guess it really shouldn't have been, because the character is written in such a way that the actions of the films closing stages are completely plausible.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEkmoawOih0
What I admired most about Mother was the multi-layered narrative. It was not a simple story of a Mother trying to prove her Son's innocence, actions begin to emerge. The manipulation/control over the pair by superior forces in society, inadequate behavior of police investigators, the strangeness of Mother and Son, etc. All these come into focus and as spectators we can see both sides of Mother's primary plotline therefore influencing our perspective of the characters.
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".
thats what i love about korean films alot of them have bold non cookie cutter endings
Oldboy
The Chaser
No Mercy
The Host
The Chaser
Memories Of Murder
I Saw The Devil
all have ending you dont expect