.dog

I don't often watch Greek films, and I haven't been to the cinema in the past year. The specific movie I randomly watched, which was advertised on Instagram, didn't appeal to me. I decided to watch it because I was more interested in the actor Dimitris Kitsos, whom I had seen in another project, specifically in the maestro, a mini-series. I think the movie could have had more substance, exploring how the main character could understand his father's nature earlier and take actions to change, making things worse or better before getting into the situation. While the performances of the two actors were basic, they didn't provide much depth to the characters, and there was room for improvement.

As a Cypriot who has watched a lot of movies, both cypriot and non cypriot. This movie is a wonderful step forward for the film industry in the country of Cyprus, cause it showcases something unheard of in the film industry of this country. And that is a movie that takes actual chances to polarize audiences. Yes this movie is probably not for everyone since it touches a lot of weird subjects...and that is fine. That is what a film is all about, taking chances, saying your truth and be original. Yes this movie is far from a perfect film, but its infinitely better in my eyes as a film watcher from a standard, boring no risks taken 5/10 film that i will forget about by tomorrow evening. I genuinely want more films from this country to take risks and attempt what this film did. I dont do reviews normally but the lack of positive reviews for this film left me with a deep sense of sadness and i had to give my 2 cents to it.

Overall: Interesting film that wont leave ya bored out of your mind watching it and ranks in the top 2 films for me by Cyprus right beside Smuggling Hendrix (funny enough both with dogs main themes)

The movie shows the relationship between a father, recently released from prison, and his teenage son, who lived in a Home for orphans and abandoned children.

The son (Dimitris) was doing alright before his father (Andreas) entered his life again. He had friends who loved him, a job and a boss who wanted to "adopt" him.

Dimitris, however, wanted to be with his father. Andreas did not quit from his old bad habits and soon Dimitris realised his abusive behaviour.

The movie was shot in a documentary style and I particularly liked the night scenes. Both actors of the main characters are excellent and every other character had a purpose for the plot. The stronger scene of the movie, in my opinion, was at the end of the movie, where father and son were fighting like dogs. It was a brief scene, yet very strong.

I would like to see more of the emotional need of Dimitris from his father. Dialogues with a lot of emotion, confrontation, emotional outbursts etc. Nevertheless, it's a good movie, enjoy!

«.dog» is the first movie by Cypriot filmmaker Yianna Americanou. She was trained as film director in the United Kingdom and United States, and perhaps that partially explains the rather epidermic treatment of her characters and the situations they get involved in, and the excessive use of extradiegetic music, being these two traits frequently found in mainstream films produced in both countries, with detrimental effects.

The story centers around the encounter of an ex-con with his young son, who is close to achieving emancipation, when he leaves the State "hostel for orphans" where he lives. Dimitris or D --as many call him-- grew up without his father, but has done rather well, and befriended another young man in the hostel, who serves as alternate family. But when the father is out of jail, his presence begins to erode D's future perspectives. The drama that unfolds is predictable, its vicissitudes are formulaic, it reaches an unconvincing happy ending, and the music score and songs do not help much.

However, there is energy and sincerity in the performance of young actor Dimitris Kitsos as D, the color cinematography is attractive and Americanou uses very good locations that visually help the movie a lot. Not a bad start but it could have benefited from a better screenplay.

There are things that do not make sense and subplots that lead nowhere. The whole thing is unrealistic, incoherent and pretentious. The movie was promoted as a "Cypriot film" but Amerikanou, apparently does not like the cypriot dialect which is insulting to the cypriot people. The characters do not even speak in the local dialect. I hope the filmmaker supports her country and its dialect in her next film.