Dog (2002)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Suzie Templeton

Writer:

Suzie Templeton (writer)

Genre:

Short | Animation

Plot:

A young boy and his father live in a dull, lonely house with the shadow of mourning hanging over them both...

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Euthanasia | Loss Of Mother

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 9 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Tony Fish
Joshua O'Keefe

Runtime:

UK:5 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Royal College of Art

Not cheerful stuff but the performances (!) of the puppets is sublime

A young boy and his father live in a dull, lonely house with the shadow of mourning hanging over them both. The boy misses his mother but gets no comfort from his father's ascertains that she went peacefully. This tragedy is added to by the family dog which is looking increasingly unhealthy.

The challenge of a short in some cases is to try and get a lot across enough story in a short time to make the film work in some way. That is the case here - the film is very short and has a lot of back story to tell us, indeed the back story IS the story. The background is delivered so well it's amazing. The final punch is the least subtle but up till then it's sublime. Little details, little expressions, little movements tell so much about the inner feelings. Even if it's pretty depressing it's still worth watching for the skill.

Did I mention these are not people but steel framed puppets? Puppets with fixed expressions? Yet they still manage to emote so very much and fill us in on the story. The only character I didn't like was the dog itself as I felt that it was made to look too desperate, to much at the end of the road! Though that may have been the point.

Overall this short and (bitter) sweet. It's not cheerful and is the exact opposite but the level of detail that is brought out through minor things should be seen to be appreciated - I've seen plenty of actors who could take a lot from this short.