Year of the Dog
Dir: Mike White
2007
****
I warmed to Year of the Dog instantly, mainly thanks to Molly Shannon's portrayal of what would be regarded as a 'Mad Cat Lady', albeit one that favours Canines rather than Felines. You can imagine the cliches that could be associated with such a film but thankfully none of them are present. Instead, Shannon defends the often misunderstood and misrepresented character in a subtle but delightful performance. The supporting cast of characters are strong and every one of them adds something to the overall feel of the story. This film is very much about people rather than animals, so thankfully there are no skateboarding poodles. It's heartbreaking and the humour is on the darker side at times but the overall message and the conclusion are inspiring and uplifting. Thoroughly enjoyable and a must for Dog lovers/Independent film enthusiasts.