Open Air Cinema - Black Dog

Presented in original Chinese with German subtitles.

A neo-western of raw beauty: Director Guan Hu tells the story of an anti-hero in the Gobi Desert with subtle irony and great visual power:

After his release from prison, Lang returns to his hometown in 2008, with the Summer Olympics in Beijing just around the corner. As the country prepares for the major sporting event, authorities in the provincial town of Chixia target the growing number of stray dogs. They have taken up residence in the abandoned houses, ruins that will soon give way to progress.

The corrupt gang leader and restaurant owner Yao (Jia Zhangke) has taken over the organization of the patrol tasked with capturing the strays. Lang, who has just returned to his hometown from prison, is also part of the team. When the taciturn young man encounters the particularly fearsome black dog, for which the authorities have put a bounty on its head, the two outsiders form an unexpected friendship.

The Cannes award-winning feature film impresses with captivating visuals and outstanding acting. Last but not least, it's a wonderful ode to the friendship between humans and animals, which takes off with the soundtrack: Pink Floyd and the vastness of the Gobi Desert – the perfect symbiosis.