Film Review #137: DOG DAYS
The Heartfelt Bond Between Humans and Pets
A Review of Dog Days (2024)
Initially, when I watched the trailer of Dog Days (2024), directed by Kim Deok Min, I thought it might be a commercial comedy because the actors' performances were humorous and dramatic. However, after watching the entire film, my impression changed significantly.
Actually,
Dog Days is a heartwarming film that contributes to conversations about companionship, mental health, and love. It resonates with anyone who has experienced the deep companionship of a pet, showing the powerful connections we form with animals, and the healing that follows.
Set primarily around a veterinary hospital, the film follows different characters whose lives are deeply affected by their pets. Each story contributes to a broader reflection on how pets help us heal, connect with others, and find comfort. It carefully balances the happiness pets bring with the inevitable heartbreak of loss, creating an emotionally complex narrative.
Visually, Dog Days employs a warm, naturalistic style that mirrors the comforting nature of the stories it tells. The director uses close-up shots to capture the intimacy between pets and their owners, adding depth to the emotional moments. This is especially so in the several fantasy sequences where characters recall their loved ones. During these moments, the cinematography and lighting are warm and bright, with soft colors, creating a stark and obvious contrast when the scene shifts back to the harsh reality of their actual situations.
I found the stories of each character or group of characters in the film to flow well with each other, thanks to the well-paced editing. This allows the film to maintain a tight rhythm, while ensuring that each character's story transitions naturally and has enough space to develop. The emotional expressions are powerful without feeling forced. Particularly touching is the story of a dog named CoCo, who suffered from cancer, leading the owner to make the difficult decision of euthanasia. Another moving storyline involved several scenes between an adopted girl and her foster parents, which brought me to tears. Of course, there are many more touching moments, and I believe audiences will naturally be drawn to the film, and find themselves resonating with its emotions.
When compared to other pet-focused films like A Dog’s Purpose (2017) and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009), Dog Days stands out for its ensemble cast and focus on the human stories surrounding the pets. It is a more grounded, realistic portrayal of how pets influence human lives in a variety of ways. The pets in Dog Days aren’t depicted as extraordinary heroes; instead, they are everyday companions who help their owners navigate emotional challenges.
To learn more about the behind-the-scenes stories, I watched the film's press conference held in Korea on YouTube. During the event, the director emphasised that working with animal actors is far more challenging than working with human performers, as animals cannot be directed in the conventional sense. During filming, Kim prioritized the dogs' welfare, explaining that he would often wait patiently for the animals to perform naturally, rather than forcing them into specific actions. This approach allowed the dogs to exhibit genuine behaviors, contributing to the film's authentic emotional depth. With trainers on set at all times, the filming process became a lesson in patience and adaptability, often requiring the crew to adjust the schedule to suit the dogs' needs.
I have no doubt that this film will be loved by many audiences, just as it resonated deeply with me, reminding me of the joy and warmth pets bring to our lives.
---------------------
About the author:
Rachel Xia is a film director from China who’s been in love with art since childhood. Turning that passion into a career? Pure joy. But where she really has fun is with sharing films and the emotions they bring. She respects every creator’s voice—it's the mix of different perspectives that makes life colorful.
Dog Days will have its Singapore Premiere on 26 Oct, Saturday 1.30pm at Golden Village Suntec City, as part of the Singapore Korean Film Festival 2024. A repeat screening will be on 2 Nov, Saturday, 4.15pm.
Tickets are free through registration at https://singaporefilmsociety.peatix.com/. If the screening is sold out, please arrive 15 min before screening time for a chance of tickets at walk-in.
Visit
kff.sg
for more information.
BLOG
