In an almost deserted town, an ex-convict is trying to get on with his life when he finds a miserable black dog—and so begins their story. The plot is simple yet subtle, offering a pure and heartfelt portrayal of friendship and the bond between man and dog. The cinematography is rich and beautifully captures the setting. The character speaks very few words, which adds to the film's charm and makes it even more impactful for me.

Un film qui ouvre une fenêtre sur la vie en Chine, de beaux plans et des échanges bruts et humains. On passe un moment à saluer l'équilibre de ce mec et à l'observer renouer des liens. La relation avec le chien est légère et touchante, à l'image de ce film qui n'est ni glauque, ni désolant !

A very unique, movie, with minimal dialogues but fantastic directing and cinematography. A bit humorous in parts when the movie wants to be more serious and it acts in the benefit of the movie. A great story of man dog bonding with some very strong emotional scenes. Surely this is not for everybody, most people will find this boring but it is a movie about a dog so i'm biased. If you ike the style, slow paced but with fantastic scenery give it a try.

Like getting lost in the desert: sparse, you don't have any bearings, and there's not a lot to look at. This cliché art house flick (droughts of action, over-long, and heavy handed symbolism) about a man and a dog in 2008 China is surprisingly tame for a Cannes Un Certain Régard winner (usually my favorite category of the French film festival).