by Finnlay Dall
Worth: $16.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhangke
Intro:
... a simple story about a man and his stray companion resonates.
Director Guan Hu presents a small town ravaged by the Global Financial Crisis. Set roughly a year before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Northern China is a dry and unforgiving wasteland. Dilapidated housing, rusted signs and dusty roads – Hu’s depiction of the mainland is apocalyptic. Sweeping wide shots and harsh natural lighting impress an unbearable heat. Meanwhile, actors – coaxed in grime and sweat – seem more like survivors of a drought than people stricken by poverty. Yet, on the outskirts, with its tall mountains and vivid sunsets, a natural beauty also shines through the landscape.
That’s no doubt in part due to wonderful dogs, which call the desert their home. The opening scene sees a herd of wild dogs rushing a bus, causing the whole vehicle to tip. When they’re not roaming around town, they’re silently watching from the mountains. Leo Chen should be commended for his work as Animal Cast Director, simply for the sheer number of dogs on screen at the same time. Not to mention how difficult it must have been for the film to portray visceral animal abuse without harming any of the actors.
Greyhound cross Xin steals the show. While Eddie Peng’s quiet performance as Lang is certainly nuanced, the titular Black Dog fosters a warmth in both the audience and the characters around him. Whether it’s putting a paw out to comfort Lang’s father or a joyous tilt of the head to Lang’s guitar playing, Xin turns simple tricks into heartfelt moments of connection without ever making it feel clichéd.
Lang and the dog’s relationship is so well realised that you almost forget how little time they actually spend together in the film. Guan Hu’s insistence on Black Dog being a crime drama unfortunately leads the story to diverge into less interesting territory. An unrequited love story also pales in comparison to Lang’s friendship with the dog. These detours don’t last long, as Hu always finds his way back to the heart of the film. That’s why a simple story about a man and his stray companion resonates.
Black Dog presents a hopeless world in which two outsiders bond, finding the strength to move on in a society that perpetually beats them down. The film is a reminder that no matter how dark the times ahead may be, “those who hit the road again” will always be rewarded.
