Fable in "DogMan": Loving What Matters, Not the Whole World

After a four-year hiatus, Luc Besson has finally unveiled his latest work: "DogMan." This film marks his first entry into the main competition at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, hinting that beneath the crime genre's exterior lies a unique piece of work with profound emotions. This aligns with Besson's consistent stance that the essence of film (art) is self-expression because it is the only thing capable of a genuine confrontation with reality.

Most audiences associate Luc Besson with films like "Leon: The Professional," "Lucy," and "Taken." While these may seem akin to Hollywood's commercial productions, a closer look reveals the humane care and emotional themes that set them apart from typical mass productions.

"DogMan" follows suit. Although the film features hundreds of dogs, it is far from a typical "heartwarming pet movie." Instead, it portrays the ferocious side of these animals. Simultaneously, the main character, an unconventional "ultimate dog lover," challenges audience perceptions: he is naïve yet complex, elegant yet wild, and mad yet heartbroken, mirroring his life.

The story begins on a rainy night. A traffic cop, noticing a bloodied "lady" with a disheveled appearance, questions the situation. Only when the person turns around do they realize it's Doug, a man with disabled legs, and inside his car are hundreds of dogs. Doug utters a sentence, "As long as you don't harm me, they won't harm you."

That night, Doug, accompanied by his dogs, kills over a dozen gangsters. His former dwelling is now filled with gruesome corpses. A female psychiatrist is called to the police station to profile Doug's case and motives. Through her gradual interviews, Doug opens up, revealing his mental struggles and unveiling the turbulent life behind this crime. He is a criminal but also a victim of this world.

Doug was born into an extreme family, enduring his father's cruelty from a young age, living caged in with dogs. His father even shot him, causing severe injuries, with a bullet lodged in his spine, risking death every time he walked.

Rescued from this torment, Doug transitioned from a brutal family environment to the cruelty of the world. Due to his disability, he faced rejection and loneliness, embarking on a painful journey through various orphanages. Life for him was not a wilderness; he grew up as an outcast shunned by mainstream society. Luckily, he had his loyal companions, the powerful and faithful dogs, an indispensable part of his life.

The "DogMan" story is not a mere abstraction; it is based on a real news story Besson read years ago: a father cruelly locked his 10-year-old child and dogs in a cage for years. When the police discovered them, the child could only move on all fours, unable to speak or comprehend civilized human rules. Besson pondered, "How would this child view society when he grows up? Will he become good or bad? How will he survive? What would he pray to God for if he looks up at the sky?"

In my view, Besson's creation in "DogMan" unfolds a discussion on various real-life issues, giving the film an inspirational touch of "social allegory."

1. Capacity for Love

From childhood to adulthood, Doug found brief redemption in only two things: dogs and art. They were his loves. In his eyes, dogs were more trustworthy than people. They provided warmth during his dark childhood, while drama and performance gave his life meaning. The former made him the "DogMan," raising a hundred dogs; the latter became an opportunity to participate in drag shows. Amid the chaotic world, only these two things never betray Doug. With genuine reciprocity, his devotion was not casually dismissed.

Besson vividly portrays Doug's painful experiences, from physical abuse to various stages of psychological trauma, with his threshold for suffering constantly increasing. As he yearns for happiness, pain slowly takes root in his heart. In response, the world mostly inflicts harm. Insurance company employees deceive and intrude with guns, seeking advantage during vulnerable moments; street gangs invade homes to slaughter. Once someone is deemed vulnerable, self-protection becomes increasingly difficult. This is Doug's predicament; he doesn't actively seek murder but is forced to defend himself repeatedly.

The women who once showed him love, such as his mother and a theater actress, were fleeting sources of support. Whether they never meet again or meet again as strangers, their love is reserved and practical. In contrast, dogs' love for their owner is unreserved, and a person's love for art and fantasy can also be unconditional.

The world always has a dark side. Deception and harm from the strong to the weak never cease; human love always comes with various conditions.

Yet, even covered in scars, Doug never lost the ability to love. He found things worthy of love, constantly warming himself through their responses. The ability to love helped him evolve from severely damaged to gradually self-improving. Love requires acquisition and, more importantly, maintenance.

2. Evolution of Belief

The film begins with a quote from French poet Lamartine: "Where there is misfortune, there is a dog sent by God," implying that dogs accompany those in distress. This sentence establishes the film's underlying theme of belief, a recurring topic in Besson's films.

In summary, Doug's life goes through three stages: extreme physical suffering, confined in a dog cage; self-awareness through art; and, in the name of love and kindness, burning the last moments of his life. Ultimately, he bravely heads to the church, straightforwardly reaching the end of his life. His flesh and the shadow of a cross merge as he collapses, a moment where he seems like the embodiment of Christ.

Retracing from the final scene reveals the change and opposition in beliefs revealed in "DogMan." Most notably, Doug's father and brother, who also believe in God, interpret this belief as a "distinction between man and dog," transitioning to harming Doug as representing divine justice.

The film contains two lines implying that dogs do not bully each other based on different breeds, but humans erupt in conflict for various selfish reasons. It's an ironic commentary because true cowards are often not those beaten down by life but those so-called "strong ones" resorting to violence for a sense of existence.

This irony indirectly points to Doug's father and brother. After tormenting Doug, they hang a banner on the dog cage proclaiming, "In the name of God." However, from Doug's perspective inside the cage, he only sees "nam god," transforming into "dog man" from his vantage point.

From then on, dogs become his gods, his most loyal guardians, taking on the role of God. His faith in God is no longer like his father's and brother's, filled with doctrinal rules under patriarchal authority or society's mainstream definitions. Instead, he pursues his internal principles, constructing his understanding of social inequality.

Moreover, beliefs change with time. For instance, the gradual acceptance of cross-dressing in history lies behind the history of changing beliefs.

Shakespearean Drama: Gender Cross-Dressing and Disguise

The film frequently references elements from Shakespeare's plays, not just for romanticism but also for introducing gender-crossing and disguise, concepts present four hundred years ago. Until today, disguise has become a free outlet, a symbol of "courage in self-expression."

Through Doug's repeated choices, "DogMan" advocates a courageous attitude: the power of belief ultimately comes from the heart. As the heart changes, so does belief. Everyone may have gender distinctions, but the choice to be born free, without flattery or pandering, is a potent message.

3. Self-Redemption

In Besson's previous films, the theme of self-redemption often takes center stage. Whether it's Jack in "The Big Blue," Leon in "Leon: The Professional," or characters in films like "The Fifth Element," they share similar traits. Their love and tenderness remain hidden beneath the surface, not apparent. They isolate themselves from the crowd, out of sync with societal norms. The conclusion of their stories often involves human nature guiding them toward redemption amid hardship and darkness.

In "DogMan," Doug represents the epitome of such protagonists. In the harsh and suffocating reality, lonely Doug initially struggles to find a place for his "self." However, he eventually achieves redemption due to love and faith, discovering the "true self" he spent his entire life seeking.

One reason Doug enjoys cross-dressing is that he can step into another character beneath the makeup, forgetting his truly battered body. However, in the end, he bravely faces death in his authentic form. He finally understands that a person must choose their existence.

Physical harm and societal harm to the marginalized—all were not choices he made, but the existence of self is a choice. Even after enduring a lifetime of pain, Doug never lost love, kindness, and control over his own life. He dared to step on stage, stand up to protect vulnerable groups like him, and challenge societal and unjust fate.

Only those who choose and create their own lives truly possess genuine existence. For Doug, this way of existence is a form of self-redemption.

Some may find Luc Besson's story in "DogMan" too unbelievable. However, considering the abovementioned perspectives, this film can be seen as a profound fable, revealing the world's cruelty and human complexity yet brimming with hope and courage.

You don't have to love the whole world; there's always a part that isn't worth loving. Loving what you want to love is enough.