La vie d'un chien (2005)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

John Harden

Writer:

John Harden (writer)

Genre:

Short

Plot:

Paris, 1962. A scientist formulates a serum that transforms him into a dog. It's only when he changes back into a human that his troubles begin� |

Awards:

5 wins

Cast

Donovan Dutro

Also Known As:

The Life of a Dog (Europe: English title) (festival title)

Runtime:

Czech Republic:13 min (Prague Short Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Trivia:

Among the arcane cars in the film is a 1965 Bond Equipe GT4S, a rare British car designed by famous racer Lawrie Bond. This car, shown with both doors open, appears in the oceanside scene where two 'dogs' are running down the beach, abandoning their car and their old lives.

Fairly brilliant take-off of "La Jetee" - but it's a dog's life

A fairly brilliant take-off of Chris Marker's "La Jetee" in that the film is in black and white, told (almost) entirely with still images, but here the sense of fun is higher. A scientist discovers a serum to turn into a dog.

Harden has the mode pretty right. French voice-over, pleasant but somewhat droning music beneath. Nice shots of dogs running through the streets of Paris. The "fake" aging process on the film looks a little too fake, but it's a lark. Smart and it does not wear out its welcome. It could have made its point at a handful of points, 3 minutes in, 5 minutes in, etc., but he manages to give a nice twist to the plot to keep it going.

Be a great opener to "12 Monkeys." Nearly political in tone, too.

Great.