Before the onslaught of the Spring Festival blockbusters, January’s cinematic landscape offers a rare collection of “small but beautiful” films, among which is the French-Swiss co-production, “Dog on Trial” (“Le procès du chien”).
Poster of “Dog on Trial”
Initially premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, “Dog on Trial” is written, directed, and stars Laetitia Dosch, known for her roles in “Young Woman” and “Acid.” The film also features a standout performance by a canine actor named Kodi, who triumphed over “Black Dog” from “Black Dog” to win the Palm Dog Award at Cannes. At the 6th Hainan Island International Film Festival in late 2024, Laetitia Dosch received the Best Director award for her directorial debut.
The Story Unfolds
The film revolves around a dog bite lawsuit in Lausanne, Switzerland. Avril, a lawyer feeling unfulfilled at her firm, takes on a challenging case to prevent her boss from firing her. Darish, who has an eye condition, relies on his dog, Cosmo, for companionship. However, Cosmo bites Lorraine, a Portuguese immigrant working as a nanny. Darish is fined, and Cosmo faces euthanasia. Avril, stepping up to the plate, exploits a loophole in the law that allows only one defendant to be penalized. She challenges the notion that a dog is merely an accessory to its owner, taking the case to a higher court and turning it into a national social issue. As zoologists testify that dogs are more likely to bite women from a biological standpoint, the case becomes a target for animal rights and feminist groups. Avril finds herself torn between sympathy for the victim and her duty as a lawyer. However, after spending time with Cosmo, she decides to argue the case from a new perspective…
A scene from “Dog on Trial”
Serendipitous Encounters and Unique Perspectives
During the pre-production of “Dog on Trial,” Laetitia Dosch had an interesting encounter. She ran into Justine Triet, director of “Battle of Solferino” and “In Bed with Victoria,” who told her she was making a film called “Anatomy of a Fall,” which centered around a trial, a female protagonist, a dog, and a visually impaired character. Dosch realized that this was exactly the kind of film she wanted to make! Of course, “Dog on Trial” and “Anatomy of a Fall” are completely different works. First, the dog in “Dog on Trial” is not a supporting character, nor is it a metaphor, but a genuine protagonist.
Secondly, while both films feature courtroom scenes, “Dog on Trial” is not as mysterious as “Anatomy of a Fall.” The film initially seems to follow the suspenseful route of similar works, focusing on whether Cosmo actually bit Lorraine. However, after Lorraine unexpectedly reveals her disfigured face, the doubts cease, and the film breaks away from convention, becoming more intriguing.
Another scene from “Dog on Trial”
A Shift in Perspective
The film’s highlight lies in Avril’s changing perception of Cosmo, or rather, of dogs in general. Initially, in the lower court, she separates dogs from the definition of being mere accessories to humans, like tables and chairs, recognizing them as animals with their own will, thus giving Cosmo a chance. However, this defense is somewhat of a spur-of-the-moment clever trick. Later, she truly understands dogs, realizing that they are not just pets for human companionship but also retain their primal instincts. Therefore, in Avril’s view, biting when feeling threatened is their instinct. The conventional human notion that a good dog is obedient and a bad dog bites is inherently unreasonable. The main issue is whether humans have the right to judge animals for exhibiting their instincts and even impose extreme punishments like taking their lives, simply because they share the planet. Thus, the so-called “Dog on Trial” is actually a trial of humans, a question posed to the audience.
Societal Issues and Minor Shortcomings
As for Cosmo’s fate, “Dog on Trial” does not disregard reality for the sake of drama. In addition to animal rights, the film uses the courtroom defense to address social issues such as prejudice against immigrants and the long-standing injustice faced by women. If there is a regret, it is that the courtroom battles are not fiery enough. Although the film does spend some time portraying Avril’s opponent, Rosalind, the politician lawyer defending Lorraine, her image is portrayed as exaggerated and stereotypical, with little actual display of her debating skills.
A final scene from “Dog on Trial”
Overall, “Dog on Trial” has a very smooth pace, interweaving scenes from the protagonist’s life with courtroom drama, gradually revealing the deep-seated problems behind the case. As a feature debut, it showcases Laetitia Dosch’s promising future. Of course, Kodi, who plays Cosmo, also deserves credit. If the sheepdog Messi demonstrated superb method acting in “Anatomy of a Fall,” then Kodi is an experiential actor with no trace of performance, sometimes gentle, sometimes angry, sometimes well-behaved, sometimes naughty – just like a dog should be.