Swiss-French actress Laetitia Dosch stirs up profound philosophical inquiries about sentience and personhood in her directorial debut, a tale centered on a gutsy young attorney and her canine client, a charming pup who stands trial for biting three individuals.
A dog is not merely a table, is it? Think again, for in the eyes of the law, they are often interchangeable. Traditionally, judicial systems across the globe have distinguished between persons and things, with animals falling squarely into the latter category. Man's loyal companion is no exception, and Switzerland, the setting for Dog on Trial (Le Procès du Chien), is no different. This year, Switzerland holds the honor of being the country of focus at the Cannes Film Market, shining a spotlight on Dosch's directorial debut.
Un Certain Regard premiered Dog, a bittersweet comedy that explores the dynamic between a spirited young female attorney, Avril, and her client, Cosmos, a charming pup facing trial for biting three people. If convicted, Cosmos faces a grim fate - execution, a reality for both wild and domestic animals who transgress human rules, highlighting one of the more complex facets of the fraught animal-human relationship.
"Dogs, to me, are the most wonderful companions we could ever hope to have, and we are indeed blessed to have them," shares Dosch, who grew up surrounded by animals in a large family. "We have shaped them into what they are today, gradually evolving them over 40,000 years to meet our needs, making them beings full of love. However, this idea troubles me deeply, to the extent that I don't own a dog. But my love for dogs remains unwavering, rendering my relationship with them ambiguous."
Dog is not the tale of any one dog; it's a composite narrative that delves into the legal and philosophical questions surrounding animal personhood. It explores what it would mean if animals were accorded specific rights and how society demands conformity, both from humans and animals alike. Dosch drew inspiration for the film from several real-life cases where dog owners were tried for their pets' actions, including one that reached the European Court of Human Rights.
"One aspect that fascinated me was the impact it had on the community," Dosch elaborates. "People became deeply passionate about these stories, staging demonstrations and signing petitions. This widespread involvement spoke volumes to me, indicating that there's something deeper in our society that these issues resonate with."
According to Dosch, the law views animals as mere things. "That's why we can consume them, why we can eliminate them when they pose a threat. From a legal perspective, we destroy them rather than truly killing them," she explains.
The legal landscape surrounding animals' status has only begun to evolve in recent times. Some countries, like France, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, now acknowledge animal sentience, recognizing that animals experience fear, pain, and positive emotions like excitement and joy. However, many countries, including the United States, still lag behind in this recognition.
Dog is not just a contender for a potential Palm Dog award; it's a captivating tale that will resonate deeply with animal lovers and friends alike. "I asked myself, 'What if dogs were no longer considered mere things but rather someone? How would justice respond to such a paradigm shift?'" Dosch ponders. "The idea was both humorous and profound, raising numerous questions. Dogs aren't individuals like humans; they occupy a unique space. So, what are they? This void exists, and whenever there's a void, there's bound to be passion."
