TIFF 2024 Opening Gala: Dogman

Dogman, dir. Luc Besson, France, 2023 

Main cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Jojo T. Gibbs, Christopher Denham, Clemens Schick, Grace Palma

Dogman, the latest film from legendary director Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element), will open the 23rd edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival.

Constructed like a puzzle, the film pieces together the tragic fate of Doug, a young man who, in his childhood, was thrown by his abusive father into the cage of fighting dogs he trained. Instead of tearing him apart, they become his family. Years later, he commits burglaries in the apartments of wealthy people, aided by an army of canine companions he calls his "children," and performs in a cabaret club.

"How does one survive and what do they do with that suffering? I wanted to explore that in Dogman. Suffering is something we all have in common, and the only antidote against it is love. Society won't help you, but love can heal you." - Luc Besson