45/25
Released from prison, Lang returns to his hometown in northwest China. As part of a dog patrol tasked with eliminating stray dogs before the 2008 Olympics, he is joined by a black stray dog. The two lonely souls embark on a new journey together. Eddie Peng [the protagonist] formed such a strong bond with Xin, the dog featured in the film, that he adopted him after filming was completed. Referenced in Close-Up: The Best Movies and Other Results of 2024 (2024). I had no idea what to expect when I watched this film. It was a slow-moving but completely fascinating film. It is set in a somewhat bleak environment, but it really opened my eyes to how people exist in some parts of China. It is a stark, arid, treeless existence, but the city is preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics with propaganda blaring from loudspeakers in true Communist China style. Although it is a cautionary film, there are several parts that are quite funny and at the same time. There isn’t a lot of dialogue, it’s what’s NOT said that makes you think. I can see which was a winner at CANNES.
