As someone who has spent a significant portion of my life surrounded by four-legged companions, I wholeheartedly believe that animals can indeed act – at least when it comes to Kodi, the extraordinary canine star of “Dog on Trial”. This movie is a testament to the fact that sometimes, the best performances come not from human actors, but from those who can convey emotion with their eyes, body language, and instinctive responses.
Can animals act? Sensible people would say not: Our four-legged friends can’t read a script or construct a character, and if they come across charismatically on screen, that’s simply down to obeying commands, plus the deft touch of an editor. The more whimsically accommodating among us would say those last two points are true of some human actors too; Hitchcock, with his infamous “actors are cattle” quip, suggested as much. Either way, it’s hard to watch Kodi, the ragged, hungry-eyed canine star of “Dog on Trial,” without sensing, whether by sheer good fortune or some mysterious process of empathy, a genuine performance afoot.
In this film, a mixed-breed dog named Kodi is called upon to show a range of emotions, from jumping and slumping to trembling and even singing, all under the quirky direction of Laetitia Dosch. His performances, encompassing untamed anger and quiet melancholy, are the standout features of the movie. In most films, this might seem like overacting; however, in this particular film – a heartfelt animal rights parable disguised as a humorous farce – it appears to be intentional. Indeed, it seems that this role was specifically crafted for Kodi to shine, and following its premiere at Un Certain Regard in May, he won the Palme Dog award for best canine performer at Cannes, confirming his deserved victory.
In the movie “Dog on Trial,” the actress Dosch, known for her charming role in “Jeune Femme,” takes on the lead as Avril, a Swiss lawyer with a soft heart who often tackles difficult cases, both personally and professionally. This time, it’s Cosmos, a sad-looking dog played by Kodi, and his owner Dariuch, portrayed by Belgian actor-comedian François Damiens, who finds himself in legal trouble after his dog bit and injured three women. Apart from Dariuch owing compensation to the victims, the law mandates that Cosmos be euthanized. However, Avril contends that Cosmos, as an individual with autonomy, deserves a separate trial, thus the story unfolds.
The script by Dosch and Anne-Sophie Bailly, reminiscent of quirky, family-friendly Hollywood animal comedies from an earlier time (“Beethoven’s Sixth Amendment” comes to mind), presents a whimsical yet biting satire for adults. This story swiftly escalates into a heated national debate, complete with boisterous public protests both for and against Cosmos’s right to existence. A parade of so-called experts opine on the moral and spiritual implications of this ordinary dog. The narrative is often humorous, with Dosch’s energetic direction incorporating animation and mockumentary techniques to depict the chaotic whirlwind of a media frenzy. Interspersed within the madness are thoughtful discussions about animal behavior and ethics.
Occasionally, the bold and crowded style of “Dog on Trial” can dilute its effect. The narrative is excessively dense for a work of such slim structure, with various storylines involving Avril’s coworkers and her solitary neighbor competing for screen time with the more significant and immediate subplot of the lawyer’s bonding with Cosmos’s affable court-assigned caretaker Marc (played brilliantly by Jean-Pascal Zadi). Any dog enthusiast will find themselves touched by this narrative progression, and captivated by Kodi’s convincing portrayal. However, they may be taken aback by the next shift in the film’s tone, as its more eccentric storytelling tendencies clash with a sense of responsibility towards Switzerland’s legal system.
Among the latest French-language legal studies, “Dog on Trial” stands out as an unconventional, comical-tragic piece, similar to works like “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Goldman Case.” However, despite its erratic, zigzagging narrative, it essentially functions as a procedural, focusing on the process of determining justice. Dosch, as always, presents an appealingly quirky demeanor in front of the camera, but there’s room for improvement when it comes to managing her film’s unruly ideas and dynamic style. Nevertheless, the film’s raw, untamed quality is fitting. Aware that not everyone will support its perspective, “Dog on Trial” takes the side of animals, often acting out and misbehaving to convey its message. Moreover, it emphasizes its canine protagonist to reinforce this theme.
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2024-12-24 06:16