[Review] 'Dog Days' Dogs Want Nothing, Just Love

Movie 'Dog Days' Review

Pure Love Conveyed by Companion Animals
Recharging 'Humanity' in a Harsh Era

Movie 'Dog Days' stills
[Photo by CJ ENM]

It is a grim world. Deceiving, betraying, hitting, stabbing, and rushing. When you turn on the news, reality is more cinematic than movies, making you sigh involuntarily. We are truly in the era of 'sonjeol' (a stock investment slang meaning cutting off even at a loss, referring to severing relationships). People these days are cold. Those who want to avoid any hurt or loss in relationships immediately pull away when a 'red light' goes on for others. Even decades-long friends can become strangers with just a click of 'unfollow.'

So people leave others and seek refuge in their phones. Online, 'animal content' that makes time 'sunsak' (instant deletion) is popular. Videos of pets like dogs and cats, like 'my baby,' are just recordings, yet they are so adorable. A smile unconsciously spreads across my lips. There’s even talk that people spend entire days lying on electric blankets watching short-form pet content. The movie Dog Days (directed by Kim Deok-min) embodies this virtue.

Opening on February 7, Dog Days tells the story of lonely people, such as a successful architect and MZ riders, who find warmth in life through meeting their pets. In an omnibus format, episodes featuring Yoo Hae-jin & Kim Seo-hyung, Youn Yuh-jung & Tang Jun-sang, Daniel Henney & Lee Hyun-woo, and Kim Yoon-jin & Jung Sung-hwa intersect. It warmly portrays how meeting dogs in a harsh life brings warmth, and how they become another family to each other. Director Kim Deok-min, who quietly worked as an assistant director for 20 years, took the helm for the first time.

Movie 'Dog Days' stills
[Photo by CJ ENM]

The film is simple and kind. Some may say it’s clich?d and old-fashioned, but in this harsh era, films like this are necessary. Above all, I want to underline the warmth given by the dogs. Chajangnim, Wanda, Sting, and others. The adorable dogs’ performances are impressive. The film recharges the crumbled 'humanity.' The characters surrounding them are also kind. They live with good hearts and work hard. Even if they have much, they do not ignore or reject others but try to help in their own ways. Though their expressions may be awkward or blunt, their kindness leads them to care and love in their own ways.

Pets ask nothing from us (humans). They want nothing. They just want to be by our side. The tasty treats we give or the time spent together is all they desire. When we cry, they cry with us. When we eat, they eat their food. They are beings on a different level from humans who calculate, scheme, deceive, and expect. Their purity ultimately melts our hearts. Dog Days is like that too. What if it’s a bit old-fashioned? If watching kind and pure dogs and people in the theater can soothe weary hearts, that is enough. It is a small but powerful film that can comfort hearts exhausted by the flood of terrifying content.

Movie 'Dog Days' stills
[Photo by CJ ENM]

“Kindness and love are our strongest powers,” said actor Yang Ziqing (Yang Zichong). In the end, what saves the world is gentle words and kind hearts. Dog Days has a special power to restore lost humanity with its warm story. Running time 120 minutes. Rated 12 and over. Opens February 7.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.