Dogtooth

Movie: Dogtooth

Cast:    Christos Stergioglou   Father

            Michele Valley            Mother

            Hristos Passalis           Son

            Aggeliki Papoulia        Older Daughter

            Mary Tsoni                  Younger Daughter

Genre: Drama

Greek with English subtitles.

I saw it on: January 4, 2011

Synopsis:  Father and Mother are raising Son, Older Daughter and Younger Daughter (these are really the names they use for each other) in a very secluded environment.  The children appear to be in their mid-twenties.  It also seems that they have only ever seen one single person other than each other and their parents for their entire lives.  All they know is what their parents have told them. For example, when a cat strays into the yard, the children are warned that it is the most dangerous beast in the world and will kill and eat them if given a chance – and they believe it whole-heartedly.  When they see a jet flying overhead, they believe it is as large as it looks to them – about 6 inches long.  They have their own meaning for many words: “sea” is a comfortable chair, “Zombie” is a small yellow flower.

It’s not that they are particularly stupid, its just they know nothing that their parents have not taught them.  They never even think of crossing the threshold of the fence surrounding the property.  They believe the only way to cross the fence line is in the protection of a car.  They are told that only when one of their “dogteeth” falls out will they be old enough to venture off of the property.  There are many really strange quirks to their existence and ways the parents find to introduce things to them.

My two cents: This was one strange movie. I wish that some effort had been made to explain WHY the parents were raising the children this way.  There are numerous humorous scenes created by the incredibly naivity of the children. One of the most memorable for me was when the children were allowed to listen to a record of their “grandfather” singing.  It was actually Frank Sinatra singing one of his more famous songs.  Since it was in English, the father has to translate to Greek.  But his translation has nothing to do with what is being sung.  So I was sitting there listening to Frank Sinatra while reading English subtitles to understand what the Greek false translation was.

I would have been marginally satisfied except for the ending.  The credits rolled and I sat there muttering to myself “What the heck?” (or something close).  If it is on TV, give it a try – but I would not spend money on it.

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