Black Dog

After ten years in prison, Lang returns to his hometown in northwest China, now nearly deserted and about to be demolished to make way for an industrial complex. Lang finds work capturing stray dogs as part of the effort to "clean up" the area ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. When he is bitten by a black and dangerous dog with a high bounty on its head, both are placed in isolation to prevent the spread of rabies. In this suspended time, an unexpected bond forms between man and animal. Through a profoundly moving portrayal of this relationship, the film tells a story of redemption and renewal.

Journalist and film critic for Diário de Notícias and Antena 2 (programme "A Grande Ilusão"), Inês N. Lourenço is invited to share her perspective on the film and lead the conversation with the audience after the screening. She holds a Master's degree in Communication Sciences – Cinema and Television from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, contributes regularly to Metropolis magazine, and occasionally writes for the website "À Pala de Walsh". She is also the author of the radio series “Afinidades Electivas – Encontros do Cinema com a Literatura”, aired on Antena 2. Former journalist for the programme “Câmara Clara” (RTP2), she interned at the programming department of the Portuguese Cinematheque and has contributed to several publications, including “Paulo Rocha – As Folhas da Cinemateca”, “O Cinema Não Morreu: Crítica e Cinefilia À Pala de Walsh”, and “O Cinema das Palavras – Entrevistas À Pala de Walsh”.

“Black Dog” is part of EscolaNova’s film series “World’s Room” — a space of gathering where cinema becomes a tool for reflection and change, curated by Candela Varas.

Know + The World's Room