White God (2014)

Hungarian “Feher Isten” is a thriller drama. Co-written & directed by Komel Mundruczo. Starring Zsofia Psotta, Luke & Body, Sandor Zsoter.

The film follows the mixed breed dog, Hagen, who befriends 13 year old Lili & comforts her with her strict father. Her father has not seen her for years.

Hagen is a mixed -breed, he is subject to a large ‘mongrel’ fee imposed by the Hungarian government, which Lili’s father is unwilling to pay. He offers Lili to buy a pure bred dog if she gets rid of Hagen.

Lili takes the dog to her music class. His appearance causes chaos. Before her teacher can kick her out, she chooses to leave with her dog. But her father finds them. The music teacher had called him up. Angry, her father leaves Hagen on the outskirts of the city. The dog chases but loses them.

Then starts Hagen’s journey to search for Lili. The film a little over a couple of hours is engrossing, entertaining & Shows us how inhuman humans behave.

Made on USD $ 2.5 million, it garnered $ 581,904 .

The film premiered on 17 May 2014 in Cannes as part of the Cannes Film Festival.

Rated at 6.8 on IMDb & Prime Video.

Approx. 250 dogs were used in the film. Except for Bodie & Luke ( a pair of brother dogs that portray Hagen) the rest of the dogs were from shelters or from the streets of the shooting location. Trained with an eye towards their humane treatment & ultimate rehabilitation by Teresa Anne Miller, daughter of Hollywood animal trainer, Karl Lee Miller whose work with animals includes films such as ‘Babe” A Beautiful film, feel good.

And ‘Cujo’ now, on my list. Approximately 98% of the dogs were adopted after filming. Watch the final scene. All the dogs in the enclosure, is awesome.

Rotten Tomatoes gave 7.6 /10. ‘White God isn’t an easy watch. But it’s soaring ambition & powerful acting – human & canine alike make it well worth the effort.’

On Metacritic, the film has 80 out of 100! with favorable views.

The final scene where Lili blows the trumpet, a calming tune that calms the dogs , who were baring their teeth just moments ago is superb. But reaching that is a marathon, for the dogs & us.

White God won the Prize Un Certain Regard at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival & the Octopus d’Or at the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival for the Best International film. The dogs in the film were also awarded with the Palm Dog Award.

The film was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

There is a ‘Hagen’ 2024 film which has a leader. When we search the meaning, it is ‘enclosure’, protected place or ‘protector ! But in some contexts.. it means ‘young’ or ‘youthful’

He is the real protector for Lili. By ‘youth’ or ‘young’ we can assume him to be playful & easily molded.

Barring a few scenes, it is an adventure for us.