by Jon Partridge
“Never work with animals or children.” We are blessed in many respects that Hungarian director Kornel Mundruczo has evidently never heard this old adage. White God is a fascinating piece of filmmaking that, against the backdrop of a moral and social injustice, charts the efforts of a young girl and her dog to be reunited and rally against a system that has wronged them both.
After her parents divorce, young Lili (Zsófia Psotta) ends up being sent to live with her estranged father (Sándor Zsótér). She takes her faithful canine companion Hagen with her; however, due to new city laws, he is classed as a “mongrel” by the authorities, meaning a fine for her father. Only pure pedigree dogs are permitted. Refusing to pay, Lili’s father abandons Hagen on the side of the road, beginning their journeys: Lili rallying against her father and the other authoritative figures in her life while Hagen begins his — encountering animal control, an underground dog-fighting ring, and finally uniting a community of mixed-breed dogs in rebellion against the people who cast them out.
The idea of a law against “mixed-breeds” comes across as a heavy handed way to explore class structure, but the skillful way the canine cast is used overcomes such an “on the nose” approach. The dark journey Hagen goes on is rather harrowing in parts and unsurprisingly pulls few punches. It’s a clever mechanism to show a dog in lieu of a person as a representation of the downtrodden masses in the lower rungs of society. On a parallel journey, Lili pushes back against her father, her school, and the state. White God follows them both to tell a tale about survival and how change occurs the face of adversity, both internally and from a social perspective.
The film is perhaps pertinent right now with the situation in Greece, a portion of the European Countries using their stronger position to bend a weaker one to their will. Class struggles and social structure continue to endure in Europe, particularly the East, as well as racial issues. The film draws obviously draws from personal experiences, and that knowledge and is sure to strike a chord with many.
While successful in many respects, the film is not without its flaws. The the dog portions are engrossing in the time spent, but with the human cast it’s a little less so — a little more maudlin, feeling less consequential in a way. This is coupled with some pacing issues, such that the film feels like it peaks about halfway through. Frenetic camera work at times threatens to spoil the enjoyment of what is overall a imaginative and fascinating film.
Where White God impresses the most is in the dog-centric portions, enhanced with the knowledge that live animals were used, not CGI. Mundruczo impressively coaxes a distinct emotional range from the dogs used and the camera work, and bringing in their perspective adds to the fear factor of the human element in the film. Later portions of the film require Hagen to endure some rather harrowing experiences, and while narratively important, these portions of the film will make for uncomfortable viewing for many. Some may find these scenes hard or impossible to watch, so be forewarned. What is admirable about the project is that every one of the 274 dogs used in the film (a record by the way) were mix-breeds adopted from actual animal shelters. It’s a impressive feat matched by how it also brings attention to issues concerning the neglect of what is usually termed “man’s best friend.”
THE PACKAGE
The presentation of White God is solid, colors are deep, and details and textures good. No artifacts or issues are visible in the transfer.
Special features are a little underwhelming. The most significant addition is a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette featuring writer/director Kornel Mundruczo, screenwriter Kata Weber, animal coordinator Teresa Ann Miller, and other people from behind the camera. Some interesting details are shared on prep work for the film, including the use of the dogs, but nothing too in depth. There are also two interviews, one with Mundruczo and the other with Miller, but the contents contain little not already covered in the featurette. A director’s commentary and more elaborate insights into the dog-handing aspect of the production would have been most welcome.
THE BOTTOM LINE
White God is a unique piece of filmmaking. An engrossing tale of survival blended with smart, incisive social commentary and impressive use of a canine cast that deserves your attention.
White God is available on Blu-ray from July 28th, 2015