Cannes 2024 - Black Dog by Guan Hu

Guan Hu’s Black Dog is a film of quiet power and understated beauty, a story that explores the unlikely bond between an ex-convict and a stray dog against the backdrop of a rapidly changing China. Unsentimental yet deeply warm, the film is filled with a melancholic and lingering poetry. It is also a meditation on redemption, resilience, and the fragile connections that sustain us, set against the harsh but breathtaking landscapes of the Gobi Desert. 

The film follows Lang (Eddie Peng), a man recently released from prison, as he returns to his hometown in northern China. Struggling to reintegrate into a society that has moved on without him, Lang finds solace in an unexpected companion, a scrappy, resilient stray dog. Their relationship forms the emotional core of the film, unfolding with a quiet authenticity that avoids the pitfalls of overt sentimentality. 

Guan Hu’s direction is restrained yet assured, allowing the bond between man and dog to develop organically, without resorting to clichés or melodrama. What sets Black Dog apart is its ability to weave personal and societal narratives into a cohesive story. The film is as much about Lang’s journey as it is about the changing face of China itself. The Gobi Desert, with its vast, desolate beauty, serves as a metaphor for the isolation and alienation felt by those left behind by the country’s rapid modernisation. The urban decay of Lang’s hometown, juxtaposed with the stark grandeur of the desert evoke loss, displacement, and the search for belonging. 

The script is a masterclass in subtlety. Dialogue is sparse but impactful, with much of the story conveyed through visual storytelling and the nuanced performances of its cast and its canine star. Eddie Peng delivers performance of quiet intensity and physicality, conveying a wealth of emotion with minimal words. The cinematography is stunning, capturing both the harshness and the beauty of the Gobi Desert. The film’s use of natural light and wide, expansive shots creates a sense of scale that underscores the themes of isolation and resilience. The film’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves in its world. While some may find the slow-burn approach challenging, it’s precisely this restraint that gives Black Dog its emotional weight. 

Black Dog is a film of understated beauty and depth, a poignant exploration of humanity and the unlikely bond one can form along the way. 

Review by Laurent de Alberti

Star rating: ★★★★☆

Official Selection, Un Certain Regard.

Black Dog by Guan Hu. Starring Eddie Peng...