Guan Hu’s film, winner of the Prix Un Certain Regard at Cannes, tells the story of two discontented souls and the bond that grows between them. The action takes place in 2008, as the Beijing Summer Olympics approach; following a stint in prison, Lang (Eddie Peng) returns to his hometown to find that it’s been marked for demolition as part of an “economic development plan”. Among the abandoned buildings roam hundreds of stray dogs; one of them, an ill-tempered hound, becomes Lang’s adversary and then, over the course of the film, his dear companion.
Black Dog is a mellow, moody film, but it certainly doesn’t lack tension. From the mystery of what Lang’s actual crime was to his pursuit by a vengeful butcher to the fear of canine attack, there are strong currents of suspense running through the film. Add canny allegorical gestures, beautifully panoramic imagery, a strong lead performance, and wonderful use of Pink Floyd and you’ve got a winner—a soulful, quietly powerful affirmation of hope.
Un Certain Regard Prize, Cannes 2024
Media Partner
Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhangke, Zhang Yi, Zhou You
China
2024
In Chinese with English subtitles
At the Rio
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Liang Jing
Producer
Zhu Wenjiu
Screenwriter
Guan Hu, Ge Rui, Wu Bing
Cinematography
Gao Weizhe
Editor
Matthieu Laclau, He Yongyi
Production Design
Huo Tingxiao
Original Music
Breton Vivian
Guan Hu
Renowned Chinese director Guan Hu, a Beijing Film Academy graduate, is acclaimed for his distinct style and humanistic approach. His breakthrough came in 2009 with Cow, winning Best Adapted Screenplay at the Golden Horse Film Awards. His 2015 film Mr. Six was a box-office hit in China, grossing over 1 billion yuan, and was the closing film at the Venice Film Festival. Guan Hu’s 2020 epic The Eight Hundred was a global box office sensation. He also co-directed the commemorative films My People, My Country (2019) and The Sacrifice (2020).
Filmography: Cow (2009); The Chef, The Actor, The Scoundrel (2013); Mr. Six (2015); The Eight Hundred (2020)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
All That's Left of You
Jordan's submission for the Academy Awards, All That's Left of You makes the most of its epic format to chronicle seven decades of Palestinian history while tracking the psychological impact of cycles of exile and oppression on three generations.
Sirât
A desperate father (Sergi Lopez) searchers for his missing daughter through the spiritual wasteland of the Moroccan desert. An unforgettable sensory powerhouse, Sîrat will have you riveted and rattled for hours after the end credits have rolled.
2026 Oscar® Shorts (Documentary)
Don't come to the program of Oscar®-nominated documentary shorts for escapism. But let's talk about the Canadian contender, Perfectly a Strangeness, featuring an abandoned observatory and three donkeys. More of this, please.