My Dog Tulip (2009)

The story of a man who rescues a German shepherd and how the two become fast friends.

Directors:

Paul Fierlinger, Sandra Fierlinger

Writers:

J.R. Ackerley (book), Paul Fierlinger (screenplay)

Stars:

Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, Isabella Rossellini

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Christopher Plummer	...	J.R. Ackerley (voice)
Lynn Redgrave	...	Nancy / Greengrocer's Wife (voice)
Isabella Rossellini	...	Ms. Canvenini (voice)
Peter Gerety	...	Mr. Plum / Pugilist (voice)
Brian Murray	...	Captain Pugh / Mr. Blandish (voice)
Paul Hecht	...	Army Veterinarian (voice)
Euan Morton	...	Bicyclist / Rude Veterinarian (voice)

Storyline

The story of a man who rescues a German shepherd and how the two become fast friends.

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Plot Keywords:

german shepherd | f rated | dog movie | autobiography | memoir | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes, love really is a bitch.

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Genres:

Animation | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Câinele meu, Tulip

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,718, 5 September 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$246,574, 14 August 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norman Twain Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first US release from the revived New Yorker Films.

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Quotes

J.R. Ackerley: Dogs read the world through their noses and write their history in urine.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.1 (2011)

User Reviews

Not for prudes

At first this film looks like a short for children. It is not. It is a rather lecherous look at dogs. It is not for prudes. The ideas it discusses seem more shocking because of the innocent animations used to present them. I am one of the least prudish people I know, but found this film repeatedly embarrassing. It seemed unseemly for Christopher Plummer to be relishing such gross things as vomit, diarrhoea, bowel movements, urination, masturbating dogs, getting turned on by dog genitalia, zoophilia, leching over dog breeding, dog erections, tight dog foreskins, and dog behaviour in heat.

It is naughtily amusing by periodically putting a dress on the animated dog Tulip, and has her behave with dog-like motivations but as a human. This makes clear just how different dog behaviour is from human.

The "kindly" old man behaves in ways that belie his gentle voice. He allows his dog to bite children, to bark at all hours, to attack people and poop on other people's property then not clean it up. He does not spay his dog then beats all the dogs attracted. He lets his dog have puppies just so he can derive some perverted pleasure from the birth before drowning them. This clashes drastically with the charming animation which is like entering a painting.

The musical score is rendered with extraordinary crispness. Its cheery oompah band is used rarely to punctuate the story. It is very well done.

The big problem with the film is its deceptiveness. It so very different from what you would expect, you feel tricked into participating in some filthy joke. It is not X-rated porn, but it is quite off-colour and the box should let you know to expect that.