Dogman

This is a small but lovely and dark Italian gem. Its such a stylish and well-told story. It feels so iconic and classic and the two leading actors give exceptional and unique performances. I felt invested from the very first minute and the whole movie had a dark charm and told a not-so-important, but thrilling story. There are some elements, like the quirky performance of the leading actor and the impressive storytelling that make this film kind of exceptional. 8/10 Watch it

At first, "Dogman" tricks you into thinking it is just the usual parable of the oppressor and the oppressed, but as the story progresses, it reveals itself as an equally brutal, ambiguous and fascinating reflection on human instincts and drives. In the end, is it the story of a man who failed to tame the beast? Or is it the story of a beast who kept being loyal to the wrong man until he was inevitably forced to respond to his instincts and finally bite back?

Marcello Fonte is superb as the nuanced, buscemi-ish underdog carrying the literally back-breaking burden of loyalty and friendship in this darkly comic, violent tale of the quest for respect. Sublime photography and production design here but I was left hoping for a little more sweeter justice at the end.

Marcello is a timid, weak-minded dog groomer in a lower class neighborhood. He's a loving father and a dog lover. He deals coke to volatile brute Simoncino who terrorizes the neighborhood and never pays for anything. He gets pushed into joining Simoncino in his crime sprees. The situation spirals out of control as Simoncino's relentless brutality is matched only by Marcello's meekness.

Marcello's pathetic nature is a bit frustrating at first. His character becomes very compelling as he gets more complex. He is like a dog mistreated by his violent master. He shows his humanity and his soft nature but he is moulded by his handler. There is a magnetism to his meekness. They are all very compelling characters. Despite his flaws and the inevitable tragedy, one hopes for the best. It's a brilliant character study.

"Dogman" brings the story of Marcello. As the movie opens, we see Marcello groom a dog in his shop, which is called Dogman. We get to know Marcello, who sells some drugs on the side to make ends meet, and who more than anything care much for his daughter whom he sees occasionally. Among his friends (?) is Simon, a former boxer who terrorizes the neighborhood. Simon "convinces" Marcello to participate in a jewel heist, but when things go wrong, Marcello is picked up by the cops. Marcello refuses to rat out Simon and is sentenced to one year in jail... What will happen when Marcello is released a year later? To tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest movie from Matteo Garrone, who previously brought us the excellent mafia drama "Gomorrah". Here he delves into the lives of small crimes, and along the way examines the human condition. Due to the plot-heavy nature of the film, I can't go into much more details, sorry, just take my word for it that this is an intense but very rewarding movie experience. Marcello Fonte is outstanding in the lead role. The photography is excellent as well (the movie was shot in Castel Volturno, just north of Napoli).

"Dogman" premiered at this year's Cannes film festival, to immediate acclaim. Fonte won the Best Actor award. I happen to catch this movie during a recent family visit to Belgium. The early evening screening where I saw this at in Antwerp, Belgium was attended okay (about 15 people). I have no idea if this will reach US theaters, but imagine that if not else, this will be available on VOD and other platforms. If you are interested in a top notch foreign movie about the human conditions, I readily suggest you check this out when you can, and draw your own conclusion.