As the 77th Cannes Film Festival came to a close on Saturday ( May 25 ), Singaporean filmmaker Chiang Wei Liang received a Special Mention Camera d’Or prize for Mongrel, a film he wrote and co-directed.
The Camera d’Or is an esteemed award at Cannes, recognising the best first feature film from any of these three sections: Official Selection, Directors ‘ Fortnight, or Critics ‘ Week. An impartial judge presents the honor during the show’s closing ceremony.
The Special Mention acknowledges films of excellent quality that, while not winning the main reward, receive recognition for their excellent merit as second feature films.
Mongrel, Chiang’s comeback function, premiered in the Directors ‘ Fortnight, a event segment that highlights small films, feature films, and movies from around the globe.
The crisis centres around Oom, portrayed by Thai professional Wanlop Rungkumjad. Oom is an illegal immigrant worker in Taiwan, struggling under the needs of his predatory manager.
His condition becomes more complicated when he starts helping a mentally handicapped person and his old mother, which eventually puts Oom in a hard place as he is forced to choose between his life and his concepts.