Top 15 Most Moving Movies About Mothers for International Women's Day

This short film is based on a true story about a young, self-absorbed college student who spends most of his time away from home chasing his ambitions. He excels in his studies and is admired by many, but he remains indifferent to his family life.

After a field trip for a research paper, the young man, who had been naive and selfish, begins to understand the silent sacrifices his mother made for him all these years.

Listening to the stories of other mothers, the young man realizes how selfish and thoughtless he had been. From that moment on, he changes his ways and starts dedicating more time to caring for his mother.

Stepmom revolves around a familiar scenario many of us have encountered—'the wicked stepmother' story. It's a classic tale where, if not the strict stepmother, then it's the rebellious child who refuses to listen.

The film tells the story of Harrison and his wife, who after a divorce, are separated. Harrison gets custody of the children and remarries a woman named Kelly. As the new wife, Kelly takes on the responsibility of raising his children.

However, she faces challenges as the daughter is difficult and the son is mischievous. Both children refuse to warm up to her. Having already been hurt by their parents' divorce, they view Kelly as an outsider when their biological mother reappears.

Yet, driven by her love for the children, Kelly’s maternal instincts awaken. She works tirelessly to win the children's hearts. The story of the stepmother and biological mother unfolds in a series of touching moments as both women, despite their differences, share a common bond: their unconditional love for the children.

Despite being ex-wife and new wife, the two women begin to appreciate each other, creating a beautiful, heartfelt, and humanizing story.

The theme of motherhood ties the film Stepmom together, connecting two women who, although different in personality and life experiences, share an unbreakable love for the children they both care for. This commonality slowly brings Jackie and Isabel to understand and respect one another, resulting in a moving and deeply human story.

Mother is a South Korean film about a poor mother and her son who struggle to make ends meet. The mother works as a traditional herbalist, raising her son on her own. Her son, although handsome, suffers from a developmental delay.

One day, the police arrest him for the rape and murder of a schoolgirl. Unbelieving the charges, the mother desperately searches for evidence to prove his innocence. She begs the authorities to keep investigating and does everything a mother could do for her child.

The film imparts a powerful, humanistic message about motherhood and the lengths a mother will go to for her child. Directed by Bong Joon-ho in 2009, this film garnered significant recognition at Asian and international film festivals, winning multiple awards for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress.

Many viewers couldn't hold back their tears after watching The Joy of Motherhood. Even the Vietnamese cast members interviewed after the premiere were visibly emotional. Stories about mothers often leave us in tears, and The Joy of Motherhood is perhaps the first Vietnamese film to focus on a child with autism, which makes it all the more meaningful.

Through the love and selfless sacrifice of a single mother, the film tells the touching story of how she overcame immense hardships to raise her autistic son, Tim. Despite everything, Tim eventually finds happiness and leads a life like any other child. This film profoundly moved audiences, with every scene filled with raw emotion.

The Joy of Motherhood (formerly known as Mother Tuệ) carries a deep message about the sacred bond of motherhood. The story follows a poor, single mother named Tuệ (played by Cát Phượng) who works multiple jobs, including street vending and carrying heavy loads, to ensure her son, who suffers from developmental delays (played by Huy Khang), can go to school. Despite their struggles, the mother and child share a loving, laughter-filled home.

The Joy of Motherhood is about a mother's journey to help her son integrate into society, set in a coastal village. Tim (played by Huy Khang) suffers from autism, which affects his speech and understanding. At 10 years old, he is still unable to attend school and spends his days riding in a cart with his mother, delivering fish to customers.

Though the challenges are immense, Tuệ (played by Cát Phượng) never gives up. She believes that one day, Tim will fit in with his peers. Despite her limited education, she tries to teach him, but nothing seems to work. Ultimately, all she can do is protect, love, and care for her son.

Throughout their struggles, the support of their neighbors plays a crucial role. They sympathize with Tim, who lost his father before birth and faces emotional challenges, and they admire Tuệ for working tirelessly to support her son. Among the many characters, Giang (played by Kiều Minh Tuấn) emerges with a unique personality. His generosity and straightforward nature provide a comforting presence, as he desires to protect and care for Tuệ and Tim.

Tragically, even when Tuệ falls seriously ill, she refuses Giang's care, fearing the gossip he might face for being with her.

Not only does The Joy of Motherhood highlight the profound love of a mother, but it also showcases the bond between people and the dignity of the impoverished. Tuệ's character shines through the hardships, revealing a powerful, resilient woman whose appearance may be weathered, but her strength and love for her son grow clearer with every challenge she faces.

The Blind Side is based on a true story of a wealthy white family in the United States who unexpectedly meet and decide to adopt a homeless African-American teenager, Michael Oher, affectionately known as Big Mike (played by Quinton Aaron).

Mike’s adoptive mother, Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock), wholeheartedly supports him, enrolling him in school. However, Mike struggles to fit in, his grades suffer, and he often faces ridicule from others.

The one area where Mike shines is his physical strength. Leigh encourages him to join the football team, teaching him the game and how to build relationships with others. From a shy, oversized boy, Mike gradually matures with Leigh’s guidance. Although she is not his biological mother, Leigh loves Mike unconditionally, regardless of his race, background, or past. To Leigh, Mike is her son and a part of her family.

Leigh’s love helps pull Mike from the shadows and offers him a new life, full of hope and the possibility of a brighter future.

The heartfelt, humorous yet never melodramatic story of The Blind Side delivers a profound message about unconditional maternal love, leaving the audience with both smiles and tears.

One of the finest films in Vietnamese cinema, The Silk Dress of Ha Dong, directed by Luu Huynh, has left a lasting impression on audiences with its emotional portrayal of maternal love.

The central character is Dan (Truong Ngoc Anh), a former maid who ran away with her lover, Gu (Quoc Khanh). Together, they raise four children and struggle daily to provide for their family amidst the backdrop of war, poverty, and hardship.

Dan's life mirrors the fate of many poor women who sacrifice everything for their children. In the film, Dan is not concerned with moral standards or virtue; her only focus is her love for her children and her determination to raise them to be good people. The role of Dan in The Silk Dress of Ha Dong is undoubtedly one of Truong Ngoc Anh's finest performances.

The poetic cinematography, paired with the powerful symbol of motherhood embodied by the white ao dai, gives the film a soulful atmosphere. In addition to winning several national awards, including the prestigious Golden Kite Award, the film was also selected as Vietnam's entry for the 2007 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

This remarkable film about family and the bond between mother and child in Chinese cinema is directed by Chen Ka Tan. Featuring a stellar cast including Zhao Wei, Huang Bo, Dong Dawei, and Ha Lei, Dearest presents not only a talented ensemble but also a complex narrative and a challenging theme.

Based on a true story, the film follows the journey of a married couple, Dian Wenhui (Huang Bo) and Luo Xiaoyuan (Ha Lei), as they search for their kidnapped son, Dian Bang. Along the way, they meet other parents who have also lost their children. When they finally reunite with their son, he no longer recognizes them, and he calls another woman, Li Hongcan (Zhao Wei), 'Mother.'

The film interweaves two contrasting lives: Li Hongcan, a poor rural woman who shares a deep maternal love for children who aren't her own, and the heartbroken parents, Dian Wenhui and Luo Xiaoyuan, who have lost their son to abduction.

These two families, with their vastly different circumstances, are forced into a confrontation, yet they are united by the common pain of child abduction. The film delivers a powerful, heartbreaking story, bathed in the dark tones of tragic lives, leaving the audience with deeply human and poignant moments of reflection.

As Japan's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Her Love Boils Bathwater, directed by Ryota Nakano, tells the story of Futaba Kono (Rie Miyazawa), a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer who is running out of time. In her remaining days, she is determined to ensure the happiness of her loved ones, especially her two daughters, Azumi (Hana Sugisaki) and Ayuko (Aoi Ito).

The film brilliantly blends tragedy with moments of humor, portraying a mother’s strength and her desire to make her final days meaningful by ensuring her family’s happiness. Futaba’s indomitable spirit and optimism have a profound effect on everyone around her, whether they are close to her or strangers.

Her eldest daughter grows stronger under her mother’s guidance, gaining the courage to face school bullies, while her youngest daughter becomes more open-hearted toward her adoptive mother. Along the way, Futaba encounters and helps a young man find the meaning of his own life.

The film touches the hearts of viewers, who see in Futaba Kono the universal image of every mother. Her Love Boils Bathwater is filled with unexpected twists and powerful moments, vividly capturing a mother’s boundless love for the children she cares for as her own.

Family conflicts, sacrifice, courage, love, and the mutual care shared among family members provide Futaba Kono with some of the happiest moments of her life in her final days.

Futaba is not just a mother but also a daughter. Life and death are intertwined, and what matters most is the love that remains after we are gone. Her Love Boils Bathwater beautifully conveys this message.

Set to release in Vietnam soon, The Preparation is the debut feature of South Korean director Cho Young-jun. The film follows the story of Ae Soon (Ko Du Shim) and her son, In Gyu (Kim Sung Kyun), a 30-year-old man with the mind of a 7-year-old child.

For years, Ae Soon has dedicated her life to caring for her son, a devotion that has made her a strict and overprotective mother. However, one day she realizes that the time they have left together is slipping away. Fearing what will happen once she is no longer around, she begins making a list of things In Gyu must learn to prepare for life without her. Every moment In Gyu matures is a moment closer to the inevitable separation from his mother.

Kim Sung Kyun’s heartfelt performance, combined with the seasoned portrayal by veteran actress Ko Du Shim, promises to deliver a powerful message about the deep bond between mother and child, offering the audience a deeply moving and meaningful experience, especially for International Women’s Day.

Hai Phuong, starring the legendary action star Ngo Thanh Van, delivers breathtaking fight sequences that rival Hollywood productions. This action-packed film follows a mother’s relentless journey to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

The haunting trailer alone captivates viewers with Hai Phuong’s fierce, terrified gaze and the anguished cries of her daughter, Mai. In just a moment of inattention, Phuong loses her daughter to kidnappers. The path to reclaiming her child and saving other kidnapped children is fraught with challenges, transforming Hai Phuong from a mere mother into a fierce warrior determined to never give up.

Both Hai Phuong and Tuệ struggle daily to make ends meet, with Phuong working as a debt collector and Tuệ driving a delivery cart while also making salt when time permits. Phuong is clumsy with her parenting (even burning the rice) while Tuệ is meticulous and caring.

Phuong is powerful and skilled in combat, but Tuệ is frail, suffering from cancer. While Tuệ is beloved by the neighbors, Hai Phuong is ridiculed by those around her, even her own family, for her reckless lifestyle, her broken home, and her work as a loan shark.

But despite their differences, whether it’s Phuong’s chaotic way of loving her child or Tuệ’s nurturing care, both mothers share the same primal instinct to protect their children. Phuong will stop at nothing to reclaim her daughter from the criminal underworld, while Tuệ will fight anyone who dares insult her son, Tim, whose dream is to dance.

Whether caring for a bright, perceptive child like Mai or a shy, autistic one like Tim, both mothers take on the sacred duty of loving and protecting their children, no matter the circumstances.

Room is a film about a mother's lie, told with the aim of protecting her child as best as she can. In the story, Ma is kidnapped by a man and kept captive for seven years. After two years of captivity, Ma gives birth to a son named Jack, and the two of them live in a room smaller than 10 square meters. Every week, someone brings them food to help sustain their lives.

Living in the cramped, dimly lit room, Ma tells her son that this room is the entire world. Everything in this room is all there is to the world. However, as Jack grows older, his curiosity about the outside world increases. Ma realizes it’s time for Jack to see the world for what it really is, and this realization leads her to make the bold decision to escape.

It’s Ma’s boundless love for her son that gives her the strength to overcome the internal conflict she’s been struggling with and find a way to free him.

Some mothers find it hard to lie to others, let alone lie to their own children. Yet sometimes, this becomes the best option. The film “Room” by director Lenny Abrahamson portrays the profound emotional turmoil of a mother in a deeply convincing way.

The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by author Emma Donoghue, inspired by a true case. Josef Fritzl, a young girl, was imprisoned and raped by her father for 24 years. In the film, Ma (played by Brie Larson) is also kidnapped and held captive for seven years. After two years of captivity, she gives birth to a son, Jack, and the two of them continue to live in a room less than 10 square meters in size. Every week, food is delivered to help them survive.

To protect her child’s spirit, Ma tells him a lie for a long time. She convinces Jack that the room is the entire world. As Jack grows older, however, his curiosity about life beyond the room increases. Ma understands that it’s time for Jack to experience the world as it really is, and she makes the brave decision to escape.

The film, along with Brie Larson's performance, became an Oscar contender, thanks to the heartfelt story and stellar acting by the leads.

But above all, the film showcases the immeasurable love of a mother for her child and the inner conflict she faces to find the best way out for him. The film raises important questions for parents about their responsibilities in shaping the foundational values for their children.

Ma and her daughter Nắng are among the most impoverished members of society, struggling to survive by selling lottery tickets and collecting scrap. While the mother is slow-witted and naive, her daughter is quick-witted and intelligent. The deep love and closeness between the two of them are captured in their everyday struggles, presenting a heartwarming, humble perspective.

“Sunshine” may remind viewers of the Korean film Miracle in Cell No. 7, which became a massive hit when it was released in 2013. “Sunshine” depicts the sacred bond between a mentally disabled mother named Ma (played by Thu Trang) and her young daughter Nắng (played by Kim Thư).

A mother always shows her love for her child in her own unique way. Cherish her and give her the best things in life. This 2018 short film, produced by Viettel for International Women's Day, carries a heartfelt message that moved many viewers to tears. Starring: Lâm Thanh Mỹ, Dư Ánh Hồng, Directed by: Hoàng Art.

I HATE MY MOTHER!

The emotional tribute to mothers on International Women's Day.

Mothers always express their love in their own special way.

Hold it close to your heart and make her the happiest person in the world.

The deepest emotions of motherhood are portrayed in this short film through a young woman's memories of her mother. She grew up with her mother’s love and was nourished with the grains of rice that her mother would give to her, while she herself ate the burnt rice.

The memories of those poor yet love-filled days stayed with the young woman for her entire life, even though that great mother was no longer in this world.

Originally, the idea behind this clip was simply to share it within schools as a meaningful gift for students to give to the women they cherish. However, the clip far exceeded the team's expectations as it was warmly embraced by many.

The over 8-minute video captures the full range of emotions the creators aimed to convey. From the playful and cheerful energy of the students celebrating Women's Day together in class, to the moving moment that brings tears to the viewer’s eyes when a boy brings flowers to his mother to announce that he won first place in a talent contest. It also ends with a surprising twist involving same-sex love. As the introduction says: “Each story is a message, a gift for the women of the world and for those who should have been women...”.