Dog of God

Wow!

Few films are as daring, surreal, and unapologetically explicit as Dog of God (Dieva Suns in Latvian). An antithesis in spirit to last year's Oscar-winning Flow, this Latvian gem presents a dark and satirical fantasy, partly inspired by true events of 1692 Livonian Jürgensburg (now the Latvian village of Zaube) and partly rooted in Baltic folklore.

On its surface, Dog of God presents itself as a werewolf tale, but it spirals into something much more than that. The key themes of witchcraft, Christianity, and sex are cleverly intertwined, throwing restraint and subtlety out of the door. From its opening scenes, the film shocks with its grotesque imagery and dark humour, yet it never sacrifices its seriousness intent. It's a dreamlike satire that exposes the depths of human hypocrisy.

The pacing of the story isn't rushed, allowing you to ponder and be absorbed by the medieval Baltic atmosphere. The hand-drawn animation style is truly wonderful - cinematically beautiful and enchanting, as fantasy should be, but with the raw realism that adds to the film's intensity.

The characters are vivid and fascinating: a witch whose beauty and healing skills make her a target for exploitation; a pastor whose obsession with relics and self-loathing far outweighs his regard for human life; an oppressed servant who doesn't know his past; a mysterious man who claims to be a werewolf; an aristocratic couple preoccupied by the husband's impotence; and a congregation of zombie-like parishioners, ever ready to make someone a scapegoat. Who is the real "Dog of God" in the story? That's up for debate.

At its heart, Dog of God is an exploration of power dynamics, shame, and condemnation, through the lenses of religion, sex, and witchcraft. It raises unsettling questions: Who truly holds power? Who serves God, and who serves evil? And who are people beneath their surface, public image, and perception?

If you're squeamish or your cinematic tastes lean toward the conservative, this film is not for you. But for those willing to embrace the bizarre, the disturbing, and the surreal, Dog of God is a refreshing adult fantasy - weird, cool, and undeniably entertaining. The Abele brothers didn't just push boundaries, they tastefully ignored them.

Well and some women - but it's especially the men that project their issues or at least are unable to handle them and let others be punished for their ... sins - no puns intended.

This is quite the graphic ... depiction (well that is not a pun if you talk about an animated movie now is it?) ... sexual and violence wise. Just so you won't be shocked when you watch it. Some still think anything animated is a kids movie - no way in this case! You've been warned.

Really well told and technically top of its game. The pace may not be to everyones taste though ... it's a bit slow. Still this has something to tell us ... if we are able to stomach it.

LIFF39 2025 #4

Dog of God... was definitely an experience, especially in the cinema. It's not the usual kind of movie I see in cinemas, but each year this film festival offers something different to local cinemas that would otherwise never get attention. There's a lot to appreciate here despite having mixed feelings about other aspects.

Ah, screw it, I'm just gonna say-it's a very daring film that doesn't shy away from its content.

I liked the animation and the score. It looked very unique, like a painting come to life, and was even more impressive because it was filmed with actors on a green-screen set and then turned into animation using computer technology. It also kept going to places I didn't expect and kept doing so for an impressively long time. The creators behind this weren't on drugs; instead, they have a creative imagination, albeit somewhat odd.

Although I wasn't always fully engaged with it, it's never dull, because that would be impossible.

It's hard to recommend this to anyone or watch it with someone who doesn't know what to expect. If it interests you, you can watch it. If not, then you can just skip it. It's definitely an experience I won't forget, I'll tell you that.