Junkyard Dog (film)
| Junkyard Dog | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| French | Chien de la casse |
| Directed by | Jean-Baptiste Durand |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Anaïs Bertrand |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Benoît Jaoul |
| Edited by | Perrine Bekaert |
| Music by |
|
Production company | Insolence Productions |
| Distributed by | Bac Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Box office | $555,548[1] |
Junkyard Dog (French: Chien de la casse) is a 2023 coming-of-age comedy-drama French film written and directed by Jean-Baptiste Durand in his feature-length directorial debut. The film stars Anthony Bajon, Raphaël Quenard and Galatea Bellugi. It tells the story of two idle young men, one shy and one assertive, living in rural France. Both struggle to grow and find their place in life, as their friendship is disrupted when the most timid of the two begins a relationship with a young woman.
The film screened at the Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers on 27 January 2023. It was released in France on 19 April 2023. It received seven nominations at the 49th César Awards, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay, and won two awards: Most Promising Actor (for Quenard) and Best First Film.
Plot
The story takes place over one summer in a village in rural southern France. Dog and Mirales, two childhood pals in their twenties, spend their days roaming the streets. The loudmouthed Mirales, both literate and uneducated, has completed a training as a cook but makes a living selling weed. The taciturn Dog has just enlisted in the army and is awaiting his induction. To kill time, Mirales has got into the habit of teasing Dog mercilessly, which Dog meekly endures. A friend of theirs, Paco, plans to open a restaurant in the village and wants to hire Mirales as his chef, but Mirales acts as if the offer to work in a countryside restaurant is beneath him.
Elsa, a young woman who has just completed her literary studies, is hosted in the village by a friend as she takes time to figure out her future. She becomes acquainted with Mirales and Dog. Though Mirales was the one who initially approached her, it soon appears that she has little time for his swagger and has instead developed a liking for Dog. Elsa and Dog start a relationship. Mirales becomes jealous of their romance: he behaves obnoxiously with both of them, and his teasing of Dog turns into outright bullying. Dog finally tires of Mirales' attitude, breaks up with him and stops returning his calls.
Over a misunderstanding, Dog runs afoul of a group of local hoodlums. One night, he stumbles upon them and is chased by the gang in the streets of the village. He calls Mirales for help. Mirales comes to his rescue and helps him fight away his agressors. Mirales' dog is fatally stabbed during the scuffle.
Dog and Mirales rekindle their friendship. They bury Mirales' dog. Dog leaves for the army. Mirales starts working at Paco's restaurant.
Cast
- Anthony Bajon as Damien, aka "Dog"
- Raphaël Quenard as Mirales
- Galatea Bellugi as Elsa
- Dominique Reymond as Christiane, Mirales' mother
- Bernard Blancan as Bernard
- Nathan Le Graciet as Paco
- Kader Bouallaga as Ali
- Mike Reilles as Dimitri
- Mélanie Martinez as Charlotte
- Mathieu Amilien as Enzo
- Evelina Pitti as Madame Dufour
- Marysole Fertard as Sonia
Production
Jean-Baptiste Durand wrote the film's screenplay, in collaboration with Nicolas Fleureau and Emma Benestan. Anaïs Bertrand produced the film for Insolence Productions.[2]
Principal photography began on 9 November 2021 in France's Hérault department, and wrapped on 10 December 2021.[2]
Release
Junkyard Dog was selected to compete in the European First Feature section at the 35th Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers,[3] where it had its world premiere on 27 January 2023.[4] It was theatrically released on 19 April 2023 by Bac Films.[5][6]
Reception
Critical response
Junkyard Dog received an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on the French website AlloCiné, based on 22 reviews.[7]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angers European First Film Festival | 29 January 2023 | Grand Prix du jury | Junkyard Dog | Nominated | [8] |
| Prix Jeanne Moreau (Prix du public) | Won | [9] | |||
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Film | Nominated | [10] | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Anthony Bajon | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Galatéa Bellugi | Nominated | |||
| Most Promising Actor | Raphaël Quenard | Won | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Jean-Baptiste Durand | Nominated | |||
| Best First Film | Junkyard Dog | Won | |||
| Best Original Music | Delphine Malausséna | Nominated | |||
| International Cinephile Society | 11 February 2024 | Best Debut Film | Junkyard Dog | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Raphaël Quenard | Nominated | |||
| Lumière Awards | 22 January 2024 | Best Male Revelation | Won | [12] | |
| Best First Film | Junkyard Dog | Nominated | [13] | ||
| Paris Film Critics Association Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best First Film | Jean-Baptiste Durand | Won | [14] |
| Best Male Revelation | Raphaël Quenard | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [15] |
References
- ^ "Junkyard Dog (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b Lemercier, Fabien (22 November 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Baptiste Durand is shooting Chien de la casse". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Guédot, Valérie (6 January 2023). "Le festival Premiers plans d'Angers du 21 au 29 janvier 2023". France Inter. Radio France. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Chien de la casse". Premiers Plans - Angers Festival. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
friday 27 - 7:15 pm - Centre de congrès - Auditorium
- ^ "Chien de la casse". www.bacfilms.com (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Bajos, Sandrine; Balle, Catherine; Baronian, Renaud; Jaeglé, Yves; Valentin, Michel (18 April 2023). "Sorties cinéma du 19 avril : Sur l'Adamant, la Vie pour de vrai... les films à voir (ou pas)". Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Critiques Presse pour le film Chien de la casse". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (20 January 2023). "The diversity of new European talent on display at Premiers Plans". Cineuropa. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Lelian (28 January 2023). "Premiers Plans Angers. Jean-Baptiste Durand remporte le prix du public avec Chien de la casse". Le Courrier de l'Ouest (in French). Ouest-France. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Barat, Mathilde (23 February 2024). "César 2024: Anatomie d'une chute sacré meilleur film. Le palmarès complet de la 49e cérémonie". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Stevens, Beth (11 February 2024). "2024 ICS Award Winners". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (22 January 2024). "'Anatomy of a Fall' Wins Best Film, Actress, Screenplay at France's Lumiere Awards". Variety. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (14 December 2023). "Anatomie d'une chute domine les nominations pour les Lumières". Cineuropa (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Mézière, Sandra (5 February 2024). "Palmarès des Paris Film Critics Awards 2024". In the Mood for Cinema (in French).
- ^ "Paris Film Critics Awards 2024: List of Nominees". Sortiraparis. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
External links
- Junkyard Dog at IMDb
- Junkyard Dog at AlloCiné (in French)
- Junkyard Dog at Unifrance