36/26
Released from prison, Lang returns to his hometown in northwest China
As part of a dog patrol tasked with eliminating stray dogs ahead of the 2008 Olympics, he bonds with a black stray dog.
The two lonely souls embark on a new journey together
And a gripping tale set in the harsh environment of rural China with strong performances, direction, writing, and structure.
The dialogue, calm approach, and style of the studio really bring the story to a whole new light
Filmmaker Guan Hu explores the relationship between man and dog from a Chinese perspective and is filled with beautiful cinematography, sound design, and interesting narrative choices, which bring out the realism, engagement, and investigation of the characters in a natural way.
I appreciate the film for exploring dogs, humanism, and society without a biased approach and creating something unique
The performances by Eddie Peng and the other actors are excellent, and many of the characters, some of which could have been explored a little better.