Sunday, January 16, 2022

White Dog

White Dog is a 1982 American drama film based on Romain Gary's 1970 novel of the same name.

The film depicts the struggle of a dog trainer named Keys (Paul Winfield), who is black, trying to retrain a stray dog found by a young actress (Kristy McNichol), that is a "white dog"—a dog trained to make vicious attacks upon, and to kill, any black person. Fuller uses the film as a platform to deliver a message against racism as it examines the question of whether racism is a treatable problem or an incurable condition.

The film's theatrical release was suppressed for a week in the United States by Paramount Pictures out of concern over negative press after rumours began circulating that the film was racist. Prior to the date, it was released internationally in France in July 1982.

Critics praised the film's hard-line look at racism and Fuller's use of melodrama and metaphors to present his argument, and its somewhat disheartening ending that leaves the impression that while racism is learned, it cannot be cured.

Reviewers consistently questioned the film's lack of wide release in the United States when it was completed and applauded its belated release by Criterion.

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