Junkyard Dog (2023)
Dog and Mirales have been friends since childhood, and live in a small village in the south of France. They spend most of the day hanging around in the streets. To kill time, Mirales has got into the habit of teasing Dog, to the extent that he has become a sort of whipping boy. But one summer, Dog meets Elsa, and they fall in love. Eaten away with jealousy, Mirales will have to get over his past to be able to grow and find his place…
- Jean-Baptiste Durand
- Nicolas Fleureau
- Jean-Baptiste Durand
- Emma Benestan
Rating: 7/10 by 275 users
Alternative Title:
のら犬 - JP
Country:
France
Language:
Français
Runtime: 01 hour 33 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0
Plot Keyword: relationship problems, growing up, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, haunted by the past, troubled past, ghosts of the past, confronting the past, changing the past or future, dysfunctional relationship, male male relationship, hopeful
This is quite an enjoyably complex drama that follows the relationship between "Dog" (Anthony Bajon) and his pal "Miralès" (Raphaël Quenard). The latter man is more of his mentor, really, and quite a critical, even cruel, one at that. They've been friends since they were twelve and "Dog" is a rather shy and reticent sort of fellow that his pal constantly tries to bring more out of his shell. Well, that dynamic changes somewhat when "Elsa" (Galatéa Bellugi) arrives on the scene and quickly she and "Dog" are an item. They want to be together, they don't really want "Miralès" hanging about with them, and he doesn't take that situation well. Despite his confidence and undoubted erudition, he - a trained chef - now finds himself largely alone with only his artist other at home, and his own dog upon whom he dotes. Things come to an head when "Dog" manages to annoy a local hoodlum, draws some interesting designs on the bonnet of his car, and faces quite a perilous situation as his gang seek retribution. Things become dangerous - but who can he turn to? It's this final storyline that lets this down a bit, otherwise there's a tautly directed storyline between the two men that's peppered with a lively script riddled with sarcasm and put-downs yet also clearly imbued with a considerable degree of fraternal affection. Though a bit verbally brutal at times, there s truth to some of the barbed remarks as the young "Dog" rather aimlessly coasts through life, and Bajon portrays that character effectively - especially given that he has virtually no dialogue at all. This film is also the source of one of the most lifeless sex scenes I think I have ever seen that didn't actually involve a mortuary - and that's quite entertaining. It's quirky and different, and though I thought it did rather fizzle out a bit, I did enjoy it.