Black Doga story of friendship between a stray dog and an agent responsible for eliminating them in China, received the Un Certain Regard prize on Friday, the name of a parallel section in Cannes.
The film is an opportunity for director Guan Hu to “film the daily lives of those left behind by the industrial development that propels the country’s economy,” according to the Festival.
Very well known in China, Guan Hu is the author of some of the biggest successes of recent years, such as the war epic The brigade of 800 (2021).
He returned to his indie roots with Black Dogwhich takes place just before the opening of the 2008 Olympics, and indirectly deals with the hordes of abandoned dogs ahead of time.
“When we make films that are a little more intimate, there is less pressure, they become more sincere films,” he explained to AFP in Cannes.
The film was also cited on Friday in a somewhat special prize list: that of the Palm Dog, which awarded the grand jury prize, on 2e most important trophy, Xin, female Jack Russell crossed greyhound and second character in the film.
The Un Certain Regard jury, chaired by Quebecer Xavier Dolan, also rewarded Souleymane’s story by Boris Lojkine, as well as his actor Abou Sangaré. The film follows a delivery man who must pass his asylum interview, the key to obtaining papers.
Non-professional, Abou Sangaré who plays the title role, is himself undocumented.