4 stars (out of 5)
Director: Kriv Stenders
Cast: Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Noah Taylor, Luke Ford, Arthur Angel, Rohan Nichol, John Batchelor, Bill Hunter, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Koko
Rating: (PG)
Aussie film Red Dog (Rialto and Hoyts) appealed to me because I am the type of sap who cries over the Lotto ads. I also lived for an extended period in Australia so I have some understanding of their perception of themselves as rough diamonds with hearts of gold. I guess half of New Zealand has lived in Australia at some point, but is 10 days on the Gold Coast enough to make you appreciate the inner beauty of men who socialise in their undies?
Anyway, the Pilbara region of Western Australia is a harsh area blessed with minerals to mine and not a lot else. The 1970s saw the start of the mining boom and men from all over flocked there following the money. It was a rough life with few comforts and into it wandered a cattle dog, quickly named Red Dog.
Well, we all know why dogs are man's best friend and these men needed an emotional outlet more than most. Red Dog would just have been a camp dog except that he met the man he wanted for his master and his devotion to that master made him a legend of the Pilbara - a simple story perfectly tooled to have us animal lovers happily sobbing over the purity of canine devotion.
The question is, can we handle the smelly Aussie miners included in the mix, even if they are PG?
Best thing: Koko the dog played Red Dog and was so adorable the producer adopted him.
Worst thing: This is such a sure-fire tear-jerker and you just wish the director had refrained from over-milking it.
See it with: A homesick Aussie. That red dust gets everywhere, including into your heart.
- Christine Powley.
