It's long been recognized that different parts of the world consider different foods and different animals to be a delicacy. What is considered normal in the United States, for example, may very well offend other parts of the world. On the flip side, here in the United States is almost universally accepted that dogs are man's best friend and not man's next meal.
Directed by Andrew Abrahams, Dog War takes place in South Korea and follows a team of ex-US military vets who have taken it upon themselves to put a stop to the trading and farming of dogs for the purposes of being eaten by Korean masses.
For the older generation, this is a treasured and even nostalgic custom with health benefits of dog meat quite well known. For a growing number of Koreans, especially the younger generation, it's an antiquated and unacceptable customer needing to be put aside.
There's no doubt which side our activists stand on, though Abrahams does a nice job here of being more of an observer and actively listening to both sides of the cultural argument.
Dog War captured the Spirit of Raindance Award at the 2024 Raindance International Film Festival during its world premiere in late June. The film is graphic, though not gruesomely so, and Abrahams keeps it matter-of-fact and also emotionally resonant. Voices on all sides of the equation are passionate, one woman's presence toward film's end particularly tugging on my heartstrings as she discovers a dog farm next to her property and is practically awestruck that it takes American vigilantes to do something about it.
We see quite often the conflicted Korean authorities who resent Americans stepping on their authority, though most of the authorities seem to agree that the practice itself is antiquated and they seem to at least quietly support doing something about it. The Americans are just less polite about it.
Abrahams captures the normalcy with which dog cuisine is still embraced and openly served. Roadside stands with dogs openly on display aren't so much a regular occurrence as they are simply not that rare. We learn about slaughter farms that make America's abysmal breeding farms look like pet resorts. Abrahams also captures, however, the growing cultural conflict in Korea as the older generation resists the influence of American values while the younger generation becomes increasingly loud about ending the practice in its entirety whether it's American influenced or not.
Dog War is an immensely moving and jarring film tackling a subject likely unknown to most Americans. It's often quite suspenseful in presentation, Justin Melland's original music amplifying the film's emotional rhythms without ever becoming manipulative and the lensing by Abrahams refusing to let us unsee this disturbing yet still surprisingly accepted practice.
Dog War continues on its indie fest run and is for sure a "must-see" film for animal activists, advocates, and for those seeking a better understanding of the world around us.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
