Black Dog

Lang returns to his hometown in the Gobi Desert after a stint in jail and joins a brigade to round up stray dogs during the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. Despite being warned to steer away from a possibly rabid black dog that has been terrorising the town, the reserved loner forms an unexpected bond with the canine. Closer to his early works than his big-budget blockbusters in tone, Guan Hu’s latest noir is a playfully offbeat story of redemption and man-canine camaraderie told with splendid visual flair and charming nods to American westerns. It solidifies Guan as a rare auteur who can balance commercial and arthouse filmmaking with ease.

Cannes Film Festival: Un Certain Regard Prize and Palm Dog Awards' Grand Jury Prize