There’s something going on in the West End of London that we’re excited about! Picture House in London’s West End is having a series of dog films and we are allowed to go with Mummy!!!! Yay!
Dog Gone Crazy! is a season celebrating canines in movies, and these are the films we’ll be going to see …
“Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby”
“Perfect for all the family! Bobby, a brave Skye Terrier, becomes part of local legend when he refuses to leave his master’s grave in this moving drama based on true events.”
“The myth of Bobby, the loyal West Highland terrier who stood guard of his masters grave in Edinburgh for 14 years, was unraveled in recent years by historian Dr Jan Bondeson: ‘Bobby would go out hunting rats in the church and was kept well fed by the locals. He was not a mourning dog at all – he was a happy little dog.’ It appears there were two Bobby’s. Both apparently well fed by playing their part in the perpetuation of a ‘shaggy dog story’ many came to love (especially the Scottish Tourist Board no doubt!).
Nonetheless, this family-friendly screening with an emotional turn from Christopher Lee also offers a chance to speculate on the imaginative and pragmatic forces which made Greyfriars Bobby into an icon.” Sat 7 May, 1.00
“Amores Perros”
“Blown away by The Revenant? Here’s a chance to watch director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s powerful debut feature on the big screen.”
“Those who marveled at the realistic depiction of the bear fight in Iñárritu’s recent Oscar-winning The Revenant, may relish the chance to see his first feature, which introduced him to UK audiences in 2000.
His intention was to make a film about the relations between dogs and people, inspired by true stories. The film features three stories linked by a car crash: in the first a group of poor kids gets involved in the illicit world of dog-fighting, the second is a macabre tale about a supermodel, a luxury apartment and a lap-dog, and the third features a hitman moving through different levels of city society.
Forced to defend his filmmaking practices in this portmanteau film to the SPCA, Iñárritu explained a lot had been achieved by shooting and editing, and how he also worked with a well-respected animal trainer. ” Sun 8 May, 3.00
“Taskafa”
Also showing is “Taskafa” plus a Q&A with director Andrea Zimmerman.
“Taskafa gathers the voices of diverse Istanbul residents, all of whom display a striking commitment to the wellbeing and future of the city’s canine population. From the rapidly gentrifying city centre district of Galata to the residential islands of the Sea of Marmara, and beyond, Taskafa navigates a history of empathy with, and threats to, this highly distinctive urban community.
Despite several attempts by Istanbul’s rulers, politicians and planners over the last 400 years to erase them, the city’s street dogs have persisted thanks to an enduring alliance with widespread civilian communities, which recognize and defend their right to co-exist.
This essayistic film by artist filmmaker Andrea Zimmerman features readings by internationally acclaimed essayist and critic John Berger – a leading figure in the discipline of ‘animal studies’.” Mon 9 May, 7.00
And finally “Heart of a Dog”
“Visually rich and poetic, Laurie Anderson’s Heart of a Dog sees her reflect on love, language and death – inspired by the affection she had for pet rat terrier, Lolabelle, who died in 2011. Essayistic in style, and constructed like a collage of original musical compositions, contemporary footage, narration, animation and 8mm home movies, it deftly flits between the serious and the playful, the funny and heartfelt.”
But here is the full line up of films being shown that week – Dogs Gone Crazy Films
Come join us at these screenings and help make this a success. This way they may continue to let us in. Maybe the next time there would be a recent release and have a special dog event or premiere!
May’s comment: We just heard about Dog Gone Crazy! This is an experiment, and according to them, a bold one. I’ve approached various cinemas in London about doing a dog and owner screening event and none of them had the courtesy to even write me back to say they won’t. But along came Picturehouse doing this experiment – to see how popular it proves to be as well as the logistics of cleaning up after the event. Not so much about dog making a mess but about dog hairs left in the environment for highly sensitive humans with allergies. Oy vey! I guess they do exist.
From Thursday 5 May, Picturehouse Central will host Dog Gone Crazy!, a season of iconic films all about our canine friends.
As part of this season, we will hold the first ever West End screening for dogs and their well-behaved owners: a preview of the powerful, life-affirming festival smash Heart Of A Dog plus introductory Q&A with director Laurie Anderson on Wednesday 11 May, 6.00. There will be dog-friendly fun in the foyer before the film!
To bring your dog, book your ticket then email central@picturehouses.co.uk with your booking reference number, the name and description of your dog, and the subject line ‘I want to bring my dog to Heart Of A Dog Q&A’. This will be on a first come, first served basis.
Humans without dogs are more than welcome to this and all the other shows in this season!
Please support their effort! We would love for them to host special screenings of dog related movies where we can enjoy them with our fur babies!
One Response
London is starting to become such a dog friendly place! Take your box of tissues with you May! I’m a bit disappointed to see the Australian movie Red Dog is not amongst the line up of films. The movie’s about a Red Heeler who’s owner dies so the dog travels the world looking for him, another tear jerker.