Barking Dogs Never Bite (플란다스의 개) 2000
‘Barking Dogs Never Bite’, 2000 (플란다스의 개) marks the feature film debut of the illustrious director Bong Joon-ho, who skillfully weaves together dark humour and social critique. This black comedy intricately traces the tumultuous life of Go Yun-ju, a part-time academic who finds himself increasingly agitated by the incessant barking of his neighbour’s dog. The narrative drew inspiration from Bong’s childhood memory of seeing a deceased puppy atop his apartment building.
Starring Lee Sung-jae in the role of Yun-ju and featuring Bae Doona in her debut leading role, the film initially saw modest box office success; however, it garnered critical acclaim, sparking a passionate cult following that paved the way for Bong’s next film ‘Memories of Murder’ to catapult him to stardom.
Go Yun-ju, is an ambitious yet discontented academic feverishly pursuing a permanent position as a university professor. His belief that he must bribe the dean with a substantial $10,000 only serves to amplify his mounting anxiety and financial woes. Compounding these stresses is his heavily pregnant wife, Eun-sil, portrayed by the talented Kim Ho-jung, whose impending motherhood adds another layer of complexity to their domestic challenges. The relentless barking by the neighbouring dog drives Yun-ju over the edge. Fueled by anger, he captures an unsuspecting Shih Tzu, stowing it away in a dark, dank wardrobe in the basement of their apartment complex.
As a little girl begins to hang missing posters for her beloved pet, Park Hyun-nam (played by Bae Doona), a bookkeeper in the apartment complex office with a strong moral compass, becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the dog’s mysterious disappearance. The tension escalates when Yun-ju realizes that the true origin of the incessant barking is not the Shih Tzu he has captured, but rather a feisty Miniature Pinscher owned by an elderly lady. The narrative builds to a feverish climax when Hyun-nam inadvertently witnesses Yun-ju, cloaked in disguise, throwing the dog off the roof, setting off a madcap and chaotic chase through the complex.
The film effectively uses humour to illustrate Yun-ju’s tightly wound personality, obsessive focus on achieving academic success and overreactions to simple requests from his pregnant wife. In stark contrast, Hyun-nam emerges as a character of genuine kindness, albeit frequently hapless in her efforts to assist, as her obsession with solving the mystery of the dognapper intertwines with her dreams of achieving fame on television.
A pivotal aspect of ‘Barking Dogs Never Bite’ is its exceptional sound design, arguably more significant here than in Bong’s later cinematic offerings. The film opens with the jarring, piercing sound of a barking dog, immersing the audience in the turmoil of Yun-ju’s perspective even before visual elements unfold. The jazzy soundtrack, distinct from Bong’s typical musical choices, enhances the film’s whimsical yet suspenseful atmosphere, evoking comparisons to the antics of classic cartoons like ‘Tom and Jerry’, particularly during the energetic chase sequences. Bong expertly manipulates pacing infusing these moments with a playful, almost cartoonish charm. The iconic visual motif of a cloud of smoke is also present here. Meanwhile, yellow plays a significant role in the film; characters dressed in this hue are often depicted as innocently oblivious to the chaos unfurling around them.
The film explores the nature of poverty and the complexities of altruism versus selfishness. While many of Bong’s later works examine the gaps in class division, this narrative provides a more detached perspective, illustrated more in the background through the contrast between the janitor, a homeless man, and the dean. The theme is further expressed through Yun-ju’s ambition to climb the academic hierarchy, which is directly linked to financial bribery.
In conclusion, ‘Barking Dogs Never Bite’ is a compelling debut, highlighting Bong’s emerging talent and deft storytelling skills, even if its narrative coherence doesn’t quite reach the extraordinary heights of his subsequent films. It warrants attention, especially for those eager to witness Bong’s evolution as a filmmaker. Bae Doona deserves special praise for her outstanding performance; her portrayal in this leading role is enough evidence to see why she rose to international fame.
Leave a Reply