Dogman

Marcello Fonte delivers really capably here as the marmoset-like "Marcello" who has striven for years to develop his dog grooming business. To supplement his meagre income, he dabbles in a bit of cocaine dealing and in that he's partnered with the violent "Simone" (Eduardo Pesce) who is as selfish and unstable as he is brutal and ruthless. Unfortunately for the rather nervous "Marcello", his pal loses his temper just once too often and so soon is in need of a large sum of cash. To get that, he organises a robbery that ends up sending the loyal dog-man to prison for a year. Upon release, he feels that maybe "Simone" owes him a debt of gratitude. Failing that, €10k in compensation. When his reasoning falls on deaf ears, he decides to engage his brain and concoct a particularly unique form of revenge. This is quite a poignant look at a society that really does epitomise the keep your head down mentality. Nobody in this town is prepared to put their head above the parapet to challenge "Simone"; the police are lazily incompetent and the culture of fear that prevails is well illustrated here by the photography and look of their grotty estate. The writing rather shrewdly, I thought, leaves much of the punchier elements of the story to the visuals, and so whilst is does help to emphasise one man's timidity and another man's indifference, it isn't so crucial in telling the story. This is also a film about loyalty, and about how fickle or misplaced that can become when the scenario changes - for better or worse. Some of the dogs wouldn't bear messing with either, as this grim and compelling story warns of the dangers biting the hand that feeds you, or underestimating the potency of revenge.