Review | Cannes 2024: Black Dog movie review – Chinese director Guan Hu debuts in Un Certain Regard with relationship drama
- Watching Black Dog, the viewer may think they are in for a revenge Western or a political allegory about modern China; but no, this is a relationship drama
- Lang (Eddie Peng) returns to his godforsaken hometown, where he unexpectedly bonds with a dog and reconciles with his family, foes and his younger self
2.5/5 stars
Black Dog begins with all the trappings of a revenge Western. Set in a godforsaken town where bad guys roam around with impunity, it revolves around a reticent man returning home after a decade-long absence to confront his sworn enemies.
It also seems to have everything in place for a political allegory. Juxtaposing images of crumbling tenements with incessant radio news bulletins about the Beijing Olympics, the story, set in 2008, could offer commentary about the clash of reality and dreams in 21st century China.
As it turns out, Guan Hu’s film is neither. From the big bang of its first half-hour, Black Dog is slowly reduced to a whimper, as what was set up to be a hard-boiled genre film turns into a sentimental relationship drama about a wayward man’s attempt to connect with his family, friends, foes and his new four-legged buddy.
