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Black Dog

Gou Zhen / 狗阵

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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

 

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Director
Cast

Eddie Peng, Tong Liya, Jia Zhangke, Zhang Yi, Zhou You

Credits
Country of Origin

China

Year

2024

Language

In Chinese with English subtitles

Film Contact
19+

At the Rio

110 min
Award Winners Drama
The Seventh Art Pictures

Book Tickets

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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 headshot; Black Dog director

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)

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