Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight Review
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight (2024) Film Review, a movie directed by Embeth Davidtz, written by Alexandra Fuller and Embeth Davidtz and starring Lexi Venter, Zikhona Bali, Embeth Davidtz, Ilana Cilliers, Andreas Damm, Kara du Toit, Tessa Jubber, Carel Nel, Albert Pretorius and Anina Reed.
Actress and filmmaker Embeth Davidtz has crafted a unique drama about war, family and, to a slightly lesser extent, race relations called Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight. This film features a super performance by child actress, Lexi Venter, as Bobo, a young girl who lives on her family’s Rhodesian farm and is full of suppressed feelings. Her determination and curiosity motivate her throughout, and Venter keeps the role authentic from the moment she appears on-screen all the way until the last frames of the picture.
Set several decades ago during the Bush War, the film focuses on Bobo and her experiences with a servant named Sarah (Zikhona Bali) as well as the disturbing depression her mom, Nicola (played by Davidtz, herself), experiences as a result of the situations occurring around her. Though nothing overly drastic happens, the film quietly sneaks up on the viewer with its integrity and sharply observed characterizations.
One of the most likable aspects of Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is its use of dogs on the farm and around it. They serve to keep the movie’s main character feeling a sense of security. However, in addition, this film is very intellectually stimulating. When Bobo is moving away from a couple of different characters, she yearns to see them look back at her and keeps hoping for such a strong connection to occur between her and the other character. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the movie and the concept of someone looking back at a person to show a sign of connection is quite fascinating as a concept.
Bobo associates with a Black family who is eating outside and near her at one point. This family’s leader invites Bobo to have a sip of some sort of soup broth with them, and Bobo agrees even though she doesn’t have to. Bobo is sweet, gentle and kindly spirited almost all at the same time. She takes risks whether they pay off for her or not.
When this movie shifts the attention to the depressive mom, Nicola, it does get a little heavy-handed. At one point, Nicola dances around her friends and family while at another juncture, she appears to be shaken by a noise she has heard, and, as a result, she calls those around her a derogatory term in order to cope with her fears. Davidtz is wildly unpredictable in this challenging role, and I wasn’t sure where the film would take her law-enforcing character as I watched the film. Davidtz is, of course, more than up to the task of playing such a complex woman.
There is also a lot of substance to be found in the bond formed between Bobo and Sarah who cares for Bobo but is suppressed by her particular set of circumstances. As the two characters bond as Sarah does Bobo’s hair and they talk about life, there is an earnest nature to the movie that permeates with authenticity.
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is a historical slice-of-life in terms of its presentation of how Bobo grows up and how she handles the challenges that are thrown her way which includes witnessing her sister (Anina Reed) experience something very strange which happens right in front of Bobo’s eyes. While the film explores issues of race and wealth, it is more of a character study than anything else that shows Bobo’s trials and tribulations growing up in very different surroundings than most kids like her are accustomed to. Lexi Venter brings this character to life in a way that is nothing short of fascinating for the viewer to behold. Venter is full of passion and that makes the role so much easier to understand regardless of whether one can totally relate to her character or not.
Davidtz directs with a keen appreciation for the local details of the film’s main setting and the smaller characters are juxtaposed to the larger-than-life ones like Bobo and Nicola. Sarah is genuinely well portrayed by Bali who keeps the audience wondering how she remains so strong under such a difficult set of circumstances. Bobo makes an impact on her character’s life and vice versa.
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight doesn’t always have a lot of meat on its thematic bones, but when it does, it shines best. Davidtz delivers one of the bravest performances of her career and one that deserves serious accolades in a time where mental illness is more commonplace than it was during the timeframe the movie sets itself in. This movie should be seen for Lexi Venter who brings depth and multiple layers to a character who is in the process of seeing a world that is changing right before her very eyes, for better or worse.
In the end, Embeth Davidtz is now officially on the map as a director to keep close watch on. She has crafted an intelligent drama that has its heart in the right place even if it never gets overly sentimental. When we see Sarah looking like a queen in Bobo’s eyes towards the end, it’s a triumphant moment in a film full of quiet nuances that ring remarkably true.
Rating: 7.5/10
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