Movie shot and set in Winnipeg now playing

Jonathan Kim, who plays Min in The Mother and the Bear, talks about the Winnipeg-shot film and its cross-cultural story opening January 9.

An actor starring in a new movie shot and set in Winnipeg said the city itself is an important character in the film.

‘The Mother and The Bear’ opens in theatres Friday. The story involves a Korean-Canadian woman who falls into a coma. Her overbearing mother comes to Winnipeg to visit and work to find a relationship for her, using her daughter’s dating apps.

“I feel like it was definitely the soul of the film; it’s a character in itself,” said actor Jonathan Kim, who plays the character Min in the film. “There’s a grounded, everyday beauty about Winnipeg, and it mirrors relationships, which is at the heart of the story.”

The movie was filmed during a Winnipeg winter.

“Being cold is just one of those things that really helps tell the story in a way that brings the grounded reality,” Kim said.

Kim describes his character as a Korean-Canadian man navigating the duality of his heritage and where he was raised.

“It’s him navigating the expectations of society and navigating the cultural pressures from family,” he said.

The film first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, and was picked up by Elevation Pictures for a wider release in select cities this year.

“After you watch this film, it feels like a warm hug,” Kim said. “It’s so heartfelt. It was such a labour of love.”

“The Mother and the Bear” is playing at Scotiabank Theatre in Winnipeg. Showtimes can be found online.