Review of Neither Wolf Nor Dog (2016) by Adam M — 06 Sep 2018

Neither Wolf Nor Dog has a low budget and unfortunately it shows. The direction isn't all that interesting, and there are spots of really stiff acting and bad blocking. In one particularly unconvincing transition to a rainstorm, the characters go from driving around outside to being obviously indoors with a garden hose spraying the hood.

But the script is fantastic. The themes it explores are interesting and heartbreaking, diving deep into the treatment of native people in the United States; something also incredibly relevant to Canadians.

Dave Bald Eagle is so charming as Dan, just a fascinating person to watch. It's unfortunate that Neither Wolf Nor Dog is yet another film that feels the need to tell the story of a Native Americans through the lens of a white protagonist.

This movie kind of gets a pass on it, since it's based on a non-fiction book, but it's worth noting that it definitely plays into the trope. The movie does have an end goal it's driving toward, but it's powerful moments come from the places and people along the journey.

Dave's family talking about his life, or the three protagonists stopping in a museum with Aboriginal bones on display. These moments are interspersed with some welcome levity though, either with a snarky jab from Grover, or an appearance from Jumbo.

The screening I went to had a lot more people at it than are normally at a Studio 7 show, which is good. The messages in this movie should be heard, and the wider audience it gets the better. See it if you get the chance.