Mongrels is the feature film debut of Korean-Canadian director Jerome Yoo. Set in rural Canada in the 1990s, Mongrels follows Sonny Lee (Jae-Hyun Kim), a Korean immigrant who, after losing his wife, moves to rural Canada with his teenage son, Hajoon (Da-Nu Nam), and young daughter, Hana (Sein Jin). The film is structured in three vignettes, each focusing on one member of the Lee family as they navigate grief and acclimate to their new home. This unique structure allows the audience to connect deeply with each character.
Sonny’s storyline depicts him working to exterminate feral dogs for farmers whose livestock is affected by these animals. As he struggles with this difficult job, he also grapples with finding community, refusing to associate with the locals, and distancing himself from his coworkers. He is a hard worker, but the money he earns to care for his family comes at a high emotional cost.
Meanwhile, Hajoon struggles to connect with and earn the approval of both his father (who expects him to be a man) and his friends (who encourage him to embrace his teenage rebellion). Sonny wants Hajoon to trap and kill the feral dogs (leading to some heartbreaking scenes), but Hajoon would rather listen to music with his friend Noah (Jedd Sharp) and party at the river with his friends (who are primarily Noah’s friends). Hajoon’s chapter shows us his internal struggle as he tries to find his place in this new world while respecting his culture and family.
While Sonny cares deeply about Hajoon and his whereabouts, his focus on Hana borders on neglect. In Sonny’s absence, Hana finds a home with Sonny’s boss’s wife, Laura (Candyce Weir). Laura has always longed to have a daughter of her own and is all too happy to unofficially adopt Hana, gradually assimilating her into her world of church events and beauty pageants.
While each chapter is beautiful and compelling on its own, the tone of the film shifts dramatically from the first two to the final one. The film we start with is not the one we end with. However, this doesn’t have to be a point against Mongrels. In the end, Yoo skillfully weaves all three chapters together, delivering a moving final scene that is sure to leave viewers both hopeful and heartbroken.
Mongrels presents a unique and captivating exploration of the immigrant experience, expertly handling the difficult themes of belonging, grief, and cultural identity. Viewers will see themselves in these characters—despite their differing backgrounds—connecting deeply with the Lee family. After all, we all desperately need to feel like we belong.
