In China They Eat Dogs - ( Denmark - 1999 )

Language: Danish |  Country : Denmark | Staring: Kim Bodnia, Dejan Cukic, Thomas Jensen

Director: Lasse Spang Olsen | Year: 1999

Watch the Trailer of this film-

The next world cinema in the blog is from Denmark. This the first time we are seeing a movie from Denmark. The language of course is Danish. Forget about the credentials mentioned, I thought of seeing this movie only because of the strange title.

Arvid - Hero

This is a comedy-action genre. Arvid, our hero, work' in a bank. He is leading a dull and boring life with his frustrated girlfriend. One day he accidently nabs Franz, a bank thief, who is trying to steal the bank.  Arvid returns home as a hero, but his girlfriend had already left him with nothing but TV.

Arvid is then attacked by a woman -Lasse, who says Franz tried to steal the bank because the money would help her to do an IVF-Artificial Insemination. With this guilt feeling, Arvid decides to help  Lasse. Arvid with the help of his brother Harald, who is a criminal restaurateur devise a plan to steal bank’ money van. Stolen money is given to Lasse. 

Harald - Arvid brother

Later they bomb the jail to make-escape Lasse’ husband Franz only to find out later that he is not her husband but brother. Disappointed Harald shoots Franz. Lasse vanishes with the money.  Everything goes in vain for Arvid, this is when Harold tells him that “In China, you can eat an entire dog without anyone caring. There is nothing wrong or right and all depends on the situation “.

There is a sub-plot, which is told simultaneously. It’s in English. A man arrives from California and drop into the bar near the bank. Chit-chatting with people in the bar he is waiting for Arvid .

Man in the bar - Death

In the end, inside the bar, things get mixed up, Harold engage in a gun fight with mafia. Arvid is killed in the cross-fire. The man who is waiting for Arvid is “death”, who takes him to heaven.

Although we see so many people getting killed in the film, the film sticks to its comedy genre.  Not sure if it can be termed as black comedy. If you have a sub-titled copy, then you can enjoy the funny dialogues. Did they get inspired from "Pulp Fiction" ! Maybe!

The entire film is in Youtube,