Renowned Chinese director Guan Hu steps away from the conventional narrative with his latest visually striking venture, "Black Dog". The movie centers around Lang, a former convict portrayed by Eddie Peng who, after a decade in prison, returns home to his small city on the Gobi Desert's edge. The establishment of a normal life is complicated by the resurrection of old demons.
The title's relevance is initially ambiguous; it could represent Lang, the persona non grata barely able to hold conversations, confronted with a community that resents him, or possibly the feral black greyhound he encounters, with whom an extraordinary connection develops.
"Black Dog" deviates from the classic pet-friendly movie trope; instead, the unique bond between Lang and this stray dog forms the film's nucleus. The narrative unfolds within an urban dystopia filled with canine disarray. The eccentric thriller starts with a surreal event where dogs lead to a bus toppling in the desert, with the film's trajectory becoming progressively peculiar. Nevertheless, at its core, "Black Dog" is a twist-filled redemption tale featuring a fallen hero on a journey towards rehabilitation.
"Black Dog" distinguishes itself from Guan's prior works, such as popular action films "Mr. Six" and "The Eight Hundred". Its off-kilter atmosphere and experimental aesthetics align more with the Coens' "No Country For Old Men" and contemporary Chinese noir films such as Diao Yinan’s "The Wild Goose Lake". The movie features some violence that is less graphic and instances of animal cruelty but predominantly depicts an eerily distinctive time and space, with humans and dogs perpetually embroiled in a chase around a desolate city slated for government-led destruction.
The story unfolds prior to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. It follows Lang after a bus accident as he comes back home to his deserted childhood house. His father now lives in a local zoo, and a gangster linked to Lang's past, Butcher Hu, is set on revenge. Lang's only real kinship upon his return is with a ragged greyhound he meets in the city filled with abandoned structures and stray meandering dogs.
In a strikingly desolate setting of dust and faded colors captured by Cinematographer Gao Weizhe, Lang tends to the weakly black dog while maneuvering a world filled with wild animals seemingly reclaiming the doomed town. As Lang manages to reconnect with his father and confront his past, he also fosters an unexpected bond with the stray dog. Their narrative evolves from fearful interaction to a tale of mutual benefit and affection.
"Black Dog" belongs to a rare breed of films that explore profound and artistic canine-centered themes, diverging from commonplace mainstream dog films. Despite not winning Cannes' Palme Dog prize, it did earn the valued Prix Un Certain Regard, promising opportunities beyond Guan's established domestic success and testament to his ability to create unexpected yet captivating content.
