In contemporary Phnom Penh, thousands of young people are chasing the dream of a better life, and struggling to make ends meet, are swept up in the ferocious pace of the constantly-evolving city. Coalesce is Jessé Miceli’s debut feature, in which the lives of three young men intersect: Songsa, an introverted teenager, is sent to the capital by his family to sell clothes; Phearum drives a taxi that he is desperately trying to pay off; Thy dreams of owning a motorbike and makes money by working as a host and dancer in a gay bar. What does fate have in store for these three men as they become embroiled in an aggressive race for money and survival? A compelling portrait of Cambodian youth, this bold debut explores interwoven destinies in a fast-changing world.
This screening is followed by an in-person Q&A with the director Jessé Miceli.
