COMING SOON – 23 MAY 2025
Drama | 2024 | 128 mins
Countries: Taiwan, Singapore, France
Cast: Wanlop Rungkumjad, Lu Yi-ching, Hong Yu Hong
Language(s): Mandarin, Thai, Taiwanese
English Subtitles | AD | SDH
Theatrical release: 23 May 2025
Set in the remote mountains of rural Taiwan, Oom, an undocumented Thai immigrant works as a caregiver to the elderly and disabled in the face of enduring hardship and exploitation. As his situation grows increasingly unbearable, he must choose between survival and dignity.
Premiering at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2024 and receiving a Special Mention for the Caméra d'Or, Mongrel is a striking debut, executive produced by Hou Hsiao-hsien (A City of Sadness, The Assassin).
"Close attention is required for this sombre but impressive Taiwanese feature debut about exploited illegal staff, and their patients and gangmasters."
★ ★ ★ ★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
"There is a grace and beauty to the pace of Mongrel that at one feels like an empathetic gaze while on the other hand is silently relentless in its portrayal of an exploited workforce."
★ ★ ★ ★
James Hanton, Film Hounds
"Chiang is among the crop of promising young filmmakers mentored by Hou Hsiao-hsien and his approach recalls the distanced yet empathic observational sensibility of the recently retired Taiwanese master."
John Berra, Screen International
"There is a sense after seeing it,
however, of having encountered greatness.
That is a rarity, even in Cannes."
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline
