Korean tale of 'Mother' triumphs at Cannes

Emotional Korean tale "Mother" of a woman's relentless fight to save her backwards boy won a standing ovation for cult "The Host" director Bong Joon-ho at the Cannes festival Saturday.

Starring veteran actress Kim Hye-ja as a mother convinced of her son's innocence in a murder case, the movie brought the audience to its feet after premiering as one of the films running for the Un Certain Regard prize for fresh upcoming talent.

"A mother can be a noble figure or a savage beast," the director said.

In the audience were fellow South Koreans at Cannes, director Park Chan-wook, whose movie "Thirst" is competing for the coveted Palme d'Or and writer-director and former minister Lee Chang-dong, who is a member of this year's Palme jury.