My Life as a Dog based on the novel by Reidar Jonsson

My Life as a Dog based on the novel by Reidar Jonsson

This is an outstanding work that has won

-          The Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in a Foreign Language

-          It was also nominated for Oscars, BAFTAs and other prestigious awards, many of which it has won

It is the mesmerizing story of a Swedish boy called Ingemar, who is about eight years old when he has to move from home.

-          This is a formidable tale of Resilience

-          Coping with Adversity

-          Growing and reaching maturity at a tender age

-          It is also a narrative about comparing with others in a positive sense;

-          The hero keeps saying it could have been worse

-          One of the characters he compares with is: Laika

-          That poor dog had been sent into space, but without enough food to survive

-          Ingemar thinks it could have been worse- take the case of Laika

He also thinks of other people who have had to suffer a lot, even more than himself and maybe his mother.

The only parent that is at home with Ingemar and his brother is really ill and cannot cope with the challenges presented by two boys.

This has a tremendous impact on the young Ingemar, who feels rejected and even wonders about his guilt:

-          Tell me I did not kill her

Given the health of their mother, Ingemar and his brother have to leave their home and their dog is taken to a kennel.

I am not sure what happens to the poor, gentle bitch, but I fear the worst.

-          “In fact, I've been kinda lucky. I mean, compared to others. You have to compare, so you can get a little distance from things. Like Laika. She really must have seen things in perspective. It's important to keep a certain distance. I think about that guy who tried to set a world record for jumping over buses with a motorcycle. He lined up 31 buses. If he'd left it at 30, maybe he would have survived.”

Throughout, Ingemar is mostly positive, as it is clear from the quote above and he is thinking of other examples of men and women who had a worse luck.

There is the example of a missionary who went to Africa to try and spread the word of God and was killed in her church.

The father of the hero is supposed to be packing bananas on the same continent and his son defends him:

-          Who would take care of bananas if he would be here with me?

When he moves to a small town, there are accidents and funny events that take place, involving colorful characters.

There is a very sick neighbor, who cannot abandon his bed and who wants Ingemar to read for him some texts…

-          But these texts are from a…magazine with underwear for women!!

-          I thought this funny…I am not sure if it would be considered perverted, for the messages were rather innocent

I was thinking though that at times the effort of the hero and other child actors involved in this and other films is tremendous:

-          Perhaps more than it is good for them?

-          Even if we take into account all the measures to keep them shielded

-          I was thinking especially of First They Killed my Father, but also My Life as a Dog in some instances

When characters fight, yes, there is a pretense and they mostly mimic punches and hits, but it is still a pretense that they fight each other.

I am getting too liberal probably.

It was just a thought.

And the film is phenomenal!!

Sculpture

Boxing

Neighbor with magazines about underwear