Not Others (2023)

An immature mother, Eun-mi, and her daughter, Jin-hee, live their daily lives like sisters. Jin-hee works at the Wolsan Police Station, and due to an incident, she is unjustly demoted to calm public opinion. Jin-hee goes home looking forward to drinking cold beer with her mother, but she sees something she had never imagined.

While doing her first patrol for the Namchon Police Station, Jin-hee hears a report of a burglary at their house, and Eun-mi manages to catch the culprit. However, upon hearing the reason for the theft and that the culprit will not be detained since it's his first offense, Eun-mi, the "neighborhood crazy bitch," takes matters into her own hands.

Eun-mi sees the wounds of Na Gyeong-ran, who came to the orthopedic clinic as a patient, and tells Jin-hee that domestic violence is suspected. Jin-hee even discovers the grandson of Na Gyeong-ran, who is suspected of having been assaulted by her parents, but it is difficult to separate them because they are her family. Enraged at the people beating her family, Eun-mi gets angry again.

Eun-mi, Mi-jung, and Jin-hee have a wonderful time together, sharing stories of the challenging moments when Eun-mi endured domestic violence. Eun-mi confides in Jin-hee, disclosing that it was Mi-jung who encouraged her to undergo an abortion. A few days later, Eun-mi and Jin-hee learn about the discovery of a deceased girl's body in the news.

After spotting an unknown man lurking near her house and observing her suite from a distance, Jin-hee decides to chase after him. She doesn’t realize then who this guy is, but she thinks he could be a possible suspect in the recent murder case. Meanwhile, Eun-mi unexpectedly encounters someone from her past, a former love interest, and his sudden reappearance after all these years deeply troubles her.

The startling revelation that the lurking individual is Jin-hee's father leaves her grappling with mixed emotions. Their initial meeting doesn't match her expectations, intensifying the overwhelming circumstances surrounding her life. In a candid conversation with Eun-mi, Jin-hee finds herself unable to hold back and finally shares her bottled-up feelings about being Eun-mi's daughter, leading to a heated and emotional discussion.

Jin Hee plans a trip to reconcile with Eun Mi. Little does she know, Eun Mi, seemingly with no intention of making amends, invites an unexpected guest. And so, some sort of family trip begins. As with most things, it appeared that time would resolve everything, but in a moment of complacency, Eun Mi finds herself in serious trouble.

Startled, Jin Hee rushes to her mother, putting the blame on Jin Hong for leaving Eun Mi in a vulnerable situation. Jin Hong stands there silently, not saying a word. During the gathering with her previous team, Jin Hee feels bothered by the story about senior Jae Won. After work, Jin Hee runs into the pregnant student from earlier, waiting for her just outside the station.

un Mi and Ji Eun, Jin Hong's younger sister, have fallen out and are not on good terms anymore. The tension between them escalates as soon as they run into each other at Jin Hong's residence. It doesn't take long before Jin Hee unexpectedly crosses paths with Ji Eun. Seeing how much Jin Hee has grown, Ji Eun can't help but develop an affection for her. Unaware of Ji Eun's relationship with Jin Hong, when Jin Hee sees Jin Hong and Ji Eun together, she immediately jumps to the conclusion that Jin Hong is being unfaithful to her mother.

The possibility of Eun Mi being in danger worries Jin Hee, as she believes that the true culprit could potentially cause harm to her at any given time and place. However, Jin Hee decides not to reveal the full extent of the situation to Eun Mi. Instead, she suggests that Eun Mi stay at Jin Hong's place. Eun Mi, however, does not react positively to this suggestion.

After the occurrence, Eun Mi becomes more attentive to Jin Hee, driven by the idea that Jin Hee could be left entirely on her own if something were to happen to Eun Mi. Jin Hee experiences a similar feeling and strives to be more accommodating. Jin Hong's parents, having become aware of Jin Hee's genuine status as their granddaughter and confirming it, wish to integrate themselves into her life much like they did with their own children. However, their method of doing so appears to be flawed. (Source: Viu)

Jin Hee harbored her inner frustrations silently, believing that being a dutiful daughter meant concealing her true feelings from her mother. Navigating unforeseen challenges, she has come to understand the value of opening up to others, particularly within her own family. Eun Mi, serving as Jin Hee's mother, has acted similarly and will continue to support her daughter in the same way. However, presently, both of them require a respite from their hectic lives.