FILM REVIEW: Dogman4 min read
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Dogman takes place in an Italian suburb somewhere between metropolis and wild nature. Marcello, a small and gentle dog groomer, finds himself involved in a dangerous relationship of intimidation with Simone, a violent former boxer who bullies the entire neighbourhood.
Director: Matteo Garrone
Year: 2018
Cast: Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce
Language: Italian with English Subtitles
Runtime: 103 min
Rating: NC16
Review by Nadia Alang
Critically acclaimed film Dogman (2018) was such a sick film to kickstart this year’s Italian Film Festival with. From now till 7 June, Italian films of diverse genres from thrillers and dramas to comedies will be screened at Golden Village Plaza; I’m excited to find out how they match up to the expectations that the opening film has set for me. The reality-based story of Dogman begins simply but develops into a deep, dark story that powerfully shows a man’s struggle to get by living in the rough side of town.
Much of the film’s success has been attributed to Marcello Fonte’s award-winning performance of the titular character Dogman – or, to be more exact, a dog-grooming man. Still, I find it worth reiterating that Fonte’s performance is astounding because it does not feel like a performance.
In the same way that there could be no Jack and Rose like DiCaprio and Winslet, and no Iron Man like Robert Downey Jr, it seems there could not have been a more suitable actor like Fonte, with his small frame and sad droopy eyes, for this gentle-natured character. For this reason, it’s difficult to dislike the character Marcello because something about him seems so real and human, so vulnerable.
By being the most humanly timid character I’ve seen, Marcello is the brightest contrast to the underground life and not only because any other character we meet seem like an intimidating thug compared to Marcello. The film is shot in dark, shadowy hues such that the run-down town doesn’t only seem barren but feels depressing. Marcello becomes a kind of light in the dark as we find comfort in watching him calmly go about taming, grooming and talking to dogs. He seems perfectly content with this simple life, and we rejoice at the touching moments he has with his daughter because we get a sense that it is only in the company of this child that he is not entirely out of place.
Even when we see Marcello’s drug-dealing, cocaine-snorting nightlife, there is no denying that he is a good guy – or as good as you can be when you’re selling coke to violent gangsters. Far from a Walter White kind of drug dealer, Marcello is careful to make friends and not enemies to stay out of trouble. In fact, he’s popular and well known – friendly neighbourhood Dogman.
Dogman. It brings to mind other superhero films – Spiderman, Catwoman – and indeed, we see instances of Marcello’s heroism when he saves bad guys from dying and single-handedly revives a dog. Despite the ever-present reminder that the town is not a friendly neighbourhood, these moments move us to believe that there could be a balance between humanity and the harshness of life. The cynic in all of us who have sat through an underworld drama film knows to expect the worst.
The ending left me troubled because it did so much to establish Marcello’s admirable benevolence, only to leave me questioning if this unchanging nature was a fault in itself. Even though not entirely a universal situation, we may recognise in Marcello a person that we know is too docile for their own good and his story scares us with the idea that deep within them lies a dog just waiting to strike back. Yeah, intense.
The cinematography made it so – shots are up-close and personal, the lighting minimal but impactful – and with sounds amplified and jarring, we are pulled into every on-screen experience. Its ending does not conclude the story which is what makes it so powerful – it begins a dialogue of varying interpretations and mixed feelings.
The range of emotions it can evoke speaks for the level of realism that Dogman achieved in retelling this true story. It was slow but compelling and the story is dark but meaningful. It being one of the selected Italian films for this year’s IFF leaves me wondering what else was chosen. If any could replicate the kind of intriguing cinematic experience that Dogman had, I would not want to miss it.
The Italian Film Festival by the Embassy of Italy in Singapore has been around for three decades now. It does not take place every year, but when it does, it presents us with the finest films of contemporary Italian cinema. You can catch the remaining films that range from drama and action to comedy at Golden Village Plaza till 7 June.
More details about the films and schedule can be found here.
