Black Dog
Director
Runtime
110 Minutes
Country
China
Classification
Unclassified 15+
After a decade in prison, Lang returns to his hometown on the edge of the Gobi Desert in China. As Beijing prepares for the 2008 Olympics, Lang finds work ridding the town of stray dogs. Among them is a dog with a bounty on its head, with whom Lang forms an unexpected bond. This companionship inspires him to become a protector of other strays. His return also rekindles old animosities, creating a tension-filled backdrop to his journey of redemption and newfound purpose.
Eddie Peng (Lang) delivers a subtle yet powerful performance in a film that seamlessly blends multiple genres, from neo-noir to western and features one of the most unforgettable openings in cinema. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Gobi Desert and populated with quirky small-town characters and even a zoo in the desert, director Guan Hu has crafted a cinematic masterpiece.
Winner of the top prize in the Cannes 2024 Un Certain Regard section, with the dog winning the ‘prestigious’ Cannes 2024 Palm Dog Award.
“Set against a backdrop of urban blight and canine chaos, Guan’s highly original, deadpan thriller begins with a jarring sequence of dogs causing a bus to flip over on a desert road, only to get weirder and wilder from there.”
The Hollywood Reporter
“Guan’s approach gives the scenes of violence or tragedy a certain antic, Buster Keaton quality, which is enhanced by both Peng’s impassive yet physically expressive performance, and that of his wonderful canine co-star.”
Variety
“The real star is Black Dog himself, who navigates the arc from misunderstood arse-biter to brave and noble hound with real aplomb.”
Screen International
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Film Credits
Director
Guan Hu
Year
2024
Country
China
Language
Mandarin Chinese
Subtitles
English
Type
Feature & Fiction
Program Strand
World Cinema
Producer
Zhu Wenjiu
Writer
Guan Hu, Ge Rui & Wu Bing
Cinematographer
Gao Weizhe
Editor
Matthieu Laclau & He Yongyi
Cast
Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhangke, Zhang Yi & Zhou You
Music
Breton Vivian
Film Source
Hi Gloss Entertainment
Genre
Asia, Drama & Feel-Good
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