An Old Man and His Dog
An Old Man and His Dog is a 1993 Chinese drama film directed by Xie Jin which stars Xie Tian, Baocheng Gao, Jin Meng, Siqin Gaowa, and Feng Enhe. It is based on the novel of the same name by Zhang Xianliang. Set in the 1970s, the story revolves around Xing Laohan, and his relationship with a young lady.
The film gained notoriety for featuring serial killer and dog breeder Peng Cheng in the film as a body double for Xie, along with including Peng's dogs, which he fed his victim's remains to. The film was banned for two decades after its release upon the discovery of Peng's crimes, although the ban was rescinded sometime in the 2010s.
Plot
In the 1970s, in the countryside in Northwestern China, Xing Laohan is a bachelor who lives alone with only his dog for company. A woman arrives one day, begging Xing for food. Her hometown had just been destroyed following a natural disaster, and the townspeople there were starving. Xing allows her to stay and provides her with food. During her time there, Xing feels happy to have company again. However, the woman is worried about her family back home, especially because she left without their permission. She eventually gets word that her family's conditions there have only worsened, and she leaves to head back to her hometown as she worries over them, especially over her fourteen-year-old daughter. Xing is distraught following her departure and, as she leaves, his village puts out a notice ordering all dogs to be killed for food. He loses both his dog and the woman by the time winter arrives. One winter morning, his neighbours check up on him and find him dead in his house.Cast
- Xie Tian as Xing Laohan
- Siqin Gaowa as Kuang Yuqing/Nunu
- Baocheng Gao as Wei Laohan
- Feng Enhe as Director Wei Tiangui
- Jin Meng as Ma Shanpo