Mongrels
In this triptych of stories, a Korean father and his two children move to the Canadian prairies to help a town deal with its feral dog population, all while making a new life in a strange land and navigating the grief of an absent mother.
Director Jerome Yoo scheduled to attend.
Tickets
Select showtime for pricing and tickets.
Friday, May 16, 2025
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
Saturday, May 17, 2025
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
Set in the 1990s, Mongrels follows a Korean immigrant family that has recently arrived in a small Canadian prairie town. Hired to help control a feral dog problem, the family’s story unfolds in three parts, each from the perspective of a different family member: the father Sonny, the son Ha-Joon, and the young daughter Hana. Directed by Jerome Yoo, a Seoul-born filmmaker making his feature debut, the film explores the emotional struggles of an immigrant family adjusting to life in a new country while coping with the absence of their mother. As Sonny and Ha-Joon work to capture the dogs, they begin to see how the unwanted animals reflect their own sense of displacement. Mongrels avoids common immigrant narratives, steering clear of tropes about racist neighbors or clashing customs. Instead, it focuses on the personal challenges of trying to build a new life while grappling with the past. The final chapter, told from Hana’s perspective, offers the most hopeful outlook on the family’s future. Yoo demonstrates a strong command of storytelling, blending character development with a unique narrative structure. His direction captures the complexities of immigrant life in a refreshing, non-stereotypical way, making Mongrels a standout debut.
- Director: Jerome Yoo
- Principal Cast: Sein Jin, Jae-hyun Kim, Da-nu Nam
- Country: Canada
- Year: 2024
- Running Time: 110 min.
- Producer: Nach Dudsdeemaytha
- Screenplay: Tesh Guttikonda
- Cinematographers: Jaryl Lim
- Editors: Lawrence Le Lam
- Music: Hao-Ting “Jude” Shih, Tae-Young Yu
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Vancouver International Film Festival 2024 (Horizon Award for Emerging Canadian Director)
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: English, Korean
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- Format: DCP
- International Sales: Game Theory Films