Black Dog | Somerville - Lotterywest Films

Black Dog presents a film that creates its own unique kind of western noir through its handsomely shot and absurdly droll tale of redemption.

Filled with expansive imagery and percolating with sly cultural critique, this is a beautiful story of human-animal friendship told without excessive sentimentality.

Newly released from prison and unwelcome in his hometown, Lang finds work with a stray dog patrol brought in to 'clean up' the town in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Forced to quarantine with a scorned stray dog, the pair end up falling into an unlikely camaraderie. The burgeoning bond between the two misfits brings Lang a renewed humanity and the black sighthound of the title acceptance and understanding.

• Un Certain Regard Prize, Festival de Cannes 2024
• Palm Dog Award, Festival de Cannes 2024
• Special Mention winner, Jerusalem Film Festival 2024

Director: Guan Hu

Screenwriters Rui Ge, Guan Hu

Cinematographer: Weizhe Gao

Cast: Eddie Peng, Jia Zhangke, Tong Liya, Xiao Xin, Zhang Yi

Composer: Breton Vivian

Editor: Matthieu Laclau