Black Dog
Black Dog
Released from jail, Lang returns to his hometown in Northwest China. As part of a dog patrol tasked with clearing stray dogs before the 2008 Olympics, he bonds with a black stray. The two lonely souls embark on a new journey together.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 1, 2025
Leave if you like.
Fall in love if you can.
The circus goes on with or without you.
May fate bring us together again.
Lang, recently released from prison, returns to a hometown that feels unfamiliar—its streets marked for demolition in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. Tasked with clearing stray dogs, he finds unexpected solace in a black stray, a reflection of his own outcast status.
The film resonates with the idea of tearing down the old to make way for something better. The growing bond between Lang and the stray mirrors the hope that even amid upheaval, life can be rebuilt stronger, with more love and intention.
Black Dog is a subtle, meditative story that captures the fragile beauty of starting over and the possibility of finding belonging—even when the world around you is changing. It’s about moving forward, not because the circus will wait, but because it’s worth the effort to try.