Cert 15
118 mins
BBFC advice: Strong language, bloody injury detail
White God had me torn. There are sections which are intricate and original and yet there are scenes which are just daft.
Since I watched it I have read that director Kornel Mundruczo created a battle between dogs and people as an analogy for the haves and the have-nots in society.
He sets out to show that those who are repressed or neglected will eventually strike back.
That wasn't what I expected when Hagen the dog of Lili (Zsofia Psotta) was initially left at the side of the street by her father (Sandor Zsoter) with whom she has been dumped.
White God then becomes two parallel stories of Lili's search for Hagen and her pet's personal battle against dogcatchers and the like.
In its early stages White Dog pulls hard at its audience's emotions. I must admit I felt upset when the teenager was parted from Hagen whom she loved and who loved her.
It continues to grab as the stories unfold. The dog's life is particularly engrossing and I would have loved to see how he was trained to behave exactly how the director wanted him to.
But then there is a scene at a pound which is not only daft in itself but is also the catalyst for a storyline which stretches the imagination.
Psotta is excellent as the emotionally wrecked young girl but, as I indicated, the highest marks should go to the animal trainers whose work makes White God a heck of a lot better than it might have been.
Director Kornel Mundruczo: "I wanted to place the film in a perspective where we understand that the dog is the symbol of the eternal outcast whose master is his god."
Reason to watch: A very unusual film - never have I seen animals play such a key role in a thriller.
Reasons to avoid: Its key chase scenes are over the top and stretch credibility.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: yes
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10