A DOG YEAR
US, 2009, 80 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Lauren Ambrose, Lois Smith, Domhnall Gleeson.
Directed by George La Voo.
A Dog Year is something of a shaggy dog story, a short story. It runs only eighty minutes and was designed for television.
It is based on a book by Jon Katz, whom Jeff Bridges portrays on screen. Suffering from some kind of midlife crisis and wary of his family (an absent wife voiced on the phone by Karen Allen) and his daughter at college, (Lauren Ambrose). He loves dogs, has written about them and, for some reason not quite explained, adopts a dog which has been abused and is quite difficult to manage. This is very clear from the upset when he arrives at the airport and runs amok. He is also a problem in the neighbourhood, chasing cars, sitting on top of them, scratching in the garden…
The opening credits show a range of pet dogs that Jon Katz had from the 1960s to the present. So, this is a film for anybody who loves dogs and trains them. When Jon Katz moves out into the countryside and rents a ramshackle house (befriending a local lad who wants to help with rebuilding, Domhnall Gleeson, son of actor Brendan Gleeson), he also encounters a tough trainer, played by veteran Lois Smith. We see the border collie in action with sheep, the trainer helping Jon Katz to overcome his own personal angers and not impose them on his dog.
Needless to say, some kind of coping with the crisis occurs for Katz as well as for the dog – but the film doesn’t take us any further, just simply showing that Katz’s writer’s block became unblocked when he was able to write about this experience with the dog.
1. A film for audiences who love dogs? For non-doglovers? Looking on from the outside?
2. The city settings, homes, streets and neighbourhood? Airport? The vet? The contrast with the countryside, the rolling hills, the farms? The ramshackle house? The people in the town? Life in town? The musical score?
3. The title, Jon Katz and his encounter with Devin? The year with him? His writing the book with that title?
4. The character of Jon Katz, reputation as a writer? Some alienation from his wife and her absence, yet loving her? His love for his daughter, her visit home, trying to understand what was going on, dealing with the dogs? The putting down of the pet dog and the sadness? Her going back to college?
5. Devin, on the plane, his arrival, getting loose in the airport, with the crowds, the police? Jon controlling him and the applause? Getting him home? The introduction to the house, food, his disturbing the food cupboards, tearing up the house? Racing through the glass in the doors? Chasing the cars? The concern about the neighbour – especially offering tips about training dogs?
6. Jon Katz and his writer’s block, his personal crisis? His fondness for the dog, getting used to it? His older dogs and their good behaviour? Taking Devin to the sea and his enjoying it? The decision to go out into the countryside?
7. The agent, the house, its needing repairs? His wanting to be by himself? His reaction to the people in the town, the cup of coffee and the people’s questions? Anthony and his offer of help? The men coming out to look at the dog? Anthony and his work, friendship for Jon?
8. Going to see Lois Blair, her brusque manner, charging two hundred dollars? Sending her own dog out with the sheep, the contrast with Devon? Her analysis that Jon was angry and needed to vent that first? Jon’s return, with the hay and getting out his anger? Lois teaching him how to give Devin treats and getting him to sit? The change?
9. The phone calls, Jon’s alienation? The transition in the country? Writing the book? His decision to return home? A catharsis for himself – and for Devin?
10. The authenticity of the relationship with the dog? The dog as ordinary, without any special effects? Audiences identifying with Jon and his experience?
