Monga
Director Doze Niu’s youth gang film possesses solid situations and characters, and does a fine job of walking the thin line between glamorizing and criticizing the gang lifestyle. Monga is Taiwan’s gangster film for this generation, tapping into nostalgia and nationalism while also representing the country’s reinvigorated commercial film industry. It does a fine job of all those things.
Mark Chao stars as Mosquito, a lonely teen new to Taiwan’s Monga (Wanhua) district circa 1986. Immediately he’s bullied by the local toughs, but is saved by the intervention of a four-member gang led by mullet-sporting Dragon Lee (Rhydian Vaughan) and strong, stalwart Monk (Ethan Ruan), who strikes up a strong friendship with Mosquito.
Monga starts sharply, with smart black comedy, fantastic camerawork, and some stylistic touches that bring the Monga district to life in a lyrical and entertaining manner. For Mosquito and the audience, joining the gang seems like good times all around.
– Ross Chen, Lovehkfilm.com
Original name: Mengjia
Duration: 140 min
Subtitles: English
Age limit: K15
