Films - Dogs.

Earlier this week we had to say goodbye to one of our great dogs, Scully. She was an amazing dog who gave us a lot of joy over the five years she was with us. 

I'm not going to write a long blog about her, however, I will write a blog about a few dog related films which I feel are worthwhile watching at a time when you've lost a furry friend, or just need a polite reminder as to why dogs are the best companions. 

What's this? A Paul Walker Disney film being first off the ranks? Well, yes. Eight Below is not only one of the best films about dogs, it's also one of the finest examples of the enduring spirit of dogs. Based on a true story, this is the tale of dogs surviving in Antarctica alone. Thankfully, for a Disney film, they don't give the dogs voices, and you're left to see their struggle to survive - after having saved their human companions - without cheesy voice over. Put all Paul Walker reservations aside and check this out.

Red Dog is just like Eight Below in the sense that it displays the pure resilience of dogs. Red Dog is a real dog who inspired a region, and who's spirit can still be felt in the region. Whilst Kriv Stenders film takes a very colloquial look at the Pilbra region, he manages to retain the heart of the story which is Red Dog's ability to bring a community together. The sting in the tale of the story is that Red Dog's death comes at the hands of someone who has poisoned him. It's also worthwhile noting that Koko who played Red Dog was a rescue dog - something which anyone who is considering getting a dog needs to consider. Rescuing a dog is one of life's great joys. 

Lady and the Tramp is an enduring Disney classic. The basic story shows the love and bond between two dogs and in typical cheesy Disney style, it shows perfectly how dogs don't judge. They don't care if one is a pedigree, or a rescue, or a stray random dog, just that they have someone besides them.

 

Full disclosure - I have no seen Umberto D, but I'm aware of the story. Umberto D and Wendy and Lucy are very similar films - they deal with rundown out of luck people who both have dogs who they love dearly but as they can't provide the right life for their dogs they need to rehome them. Where in Umberto D, Umberto tries to rehome his dog Flike and realises that he and the dog are bonded together, Wendy in Wendy and Lucy spends the film trying to find Lucy again. The heart breaking ending of Wendy and Lucy where Wendy sees Lucy in a yard playing and having a great life and she decides to leave her there instead of not being able to provide for her is powerful and shows how brilliant an actress Michelle Williams is. 

No films about dogs list is complete without the inclusion of the great Bombon: El Perro. An underrated and underseen film for sure, this is a light film which shows one of the most feared breeds of dogs - Dogo Argentino - being one of the nicest and docile dogs. There's a moment in the film which is pure comedy. A must see. 

Dean Spanley is, in my opinion, the greatest film about dogs and the greatest film about the bond between a dog and their owner. Sam Neill gives the performance of his career here. Peter O'Toole is also equally fantastic. It's a slow burn film that reveals itself perfectly as it progresses with fine comedy and one of the most heart breaking finales I've seen.