The Dog Who Wouldn't Be Quiet

His neighbours are at the end of their tether. Every time Sebastian is away from home, his dog howls fit to break your heart. So should he take the lonely mutt with him to the office? Sebastian’s employer won’t hear of it. And giving up his work is not an option, even if it isn’t exactly making this thirty-something’s life any easier. In El perro que no calla, the young Argentine hops listlessly from job to job. He never complains, but his unease is plain to see. Lead actor Daniel Katz doesn’t need words to express this: an awkward embrace, staring momentarily into space while talking to someone is enough. Sebastian’s passive attitude at times seems comical, although the tribulations he endures are certainly worthy of our sympathy. In this black-and-white film, each scene of which represents a jump forward in time, director Ana Katz strikes a fine balance between empathetic drama and the slightly absurd. This results in some surprisingly clever ideas, particularly towards the film’s denouement. (International Film Festival Rotterdam)