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
The Straight Story
David Lynch goes a different direction in this linear Midwestern about a septuagenarian (Richard Farnsworth) who drives nearly 400km on a lawnmower to visit his ailing brother (Harry Dean Stanton).
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Sasha Waters' documentary takes us through the life of America's best-selling late twentieth century poet, a private woman who shared her innermost thoughts and made them indispensable.
Franz
Veteran Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland takes the bull by the horns to craft a Kafka biopic that's Kafkaesque and then some, artfully layering scenes from Kafka's life and works along with ironic present-day footage for a truly surreal counterpoint.
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
Election
Tracy Flick (Reece Witherspoon) is running for Student President, but Mr. McAllister (Matthew Broderick) has other ideas... This remarkably sour millennial comedy from Alexander Payne (The Holdovers; Sideways; The Descendents) hits twice as hard today.
90s Surprise Film
The 90s movie we have all been missing... Join us for a celebratory wake for this year's 90s, Baby series! What you will be seeing is top secret (no, not Top Secret!, that was 1984) but it will be at least 26 years old and it will be new to this series.