The Wild Dogs

2002

1 hr. 42 min.

Drama

List

57%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

A pornographic photographer befriends a terminally ill British diplomat while traveling to Romania.

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Audience Member

An uncommonly sensitive drama about the poverty and hardship suffered by the exploited Gypsy residents of Bucharest? A muddled, grotesque travelogue where a pretensious director chides his audience and underestimates their awaredness? Probably a bit of both.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Stray dogs. Small children. Prostitutes. The handicapped. The poor. The enslaved. This film concerns the vulnerable and those who hold power over them; the men and women of privilege who choose between self-interest and mercy at every moment. Hard choices. It's a simple story; more or less a glimpse of things; food for thought, though not delivered with perfect objectivity. Parallels are drawn with transparent calculation. Much of it is gently delivered with performances so real you know that there are some non-actors here, just being themselves; wonderfully comfortable in front of cameras. It's schizophrenic in style and method; at times as deeply resonant as a superior documentary; at times haunting and artful; and at times smacking of CBC made-for-TV; stiff and under-produced. But overall a sincere little flick reminding there is still respect for kindness in the world. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

ambitious but low budget, paid for a good story, but couldn't afford decent dialogue...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

incredible, no other word for it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

Dark, blunt, and very human. Really captures the essence of Bucharest. Not for the faint of heart.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Thom Fitzgerald

Director

Anca-Ioana Androne

Elena

Rachel Blanchard

Moll

Visinel Burcea

Sour Grapes

Mihai Calota

Bogdan

Marcel Unguriano

Radu

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Fitzgerald's dialogue rings true, and he captures performances, including his own, which belie the film's low production values.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 6, 2003

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Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

[Fitzgerald's] bulky screenplay impedes his natural style.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 6, 2003

Full Review

Adam Nayman

eye WEEKLY

An uncommonly sensitive drama about the poverty and hardship suffered by [Bucharest's] Gypsy residents.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 6, 2003

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Brian Gibson

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

No one in this sterile film is redeemed, condemned or even particularly humanized. . . . Ultimately, Fitzgerald's gutless film is a muddled, grotesque travelogue.

Dec 1, 2003

Full Review

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

Highlights the trap a filmmaker can fall into when he believes himself to be smarter--better somehow--than an audience that must get tired of being underestimated.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 20, 2003

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Susan Green

Boxoffice Magazine

The disillusioned porn photographer remains an entirely unconvincing anti-hero despite his pangs of conscience.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 7, 2003

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Synopsis

A pornographic photographer befriends a terminally ill British diplomat while traveling to Romania.

Director: Thom Fitzgerald
Executive Producer: Christopher Zimmer, William Ritchie
Screenwriter: Thom Fitzgerald
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jul 6, 2004
Sound Mix: Surround