Junkyard Dog (film)

Junkyard Dog (French: Chien de la casse) is a 2023 coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Jean-Baptiste Durand in his feature-length directorial debut. The film stars Anthony Bajon, Raphaël Quenard and Galatea Bellugi. It screened at the Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers on 27 January 2023. It was released in France on 19 April 2023. It received seven nominations at the 49th César Awards, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay, and won two awards: Most Promising Actor (for Quenard) and Best First Feature Film.

Junkyard Dog
Theatrical release poster
FrenchChien de la casse
Directed byJean-Baptiste Durand
Written by
  • Jean-Baptiste Durand
  • Nicolas Fleureau (collaboration)
  • Emma Benestan (collaboration)
Produced byAnaïs Bertrand
Starring
CinematographyBenoît Jaoul
Edited byPerrine Bekaert
Music by
  • Delphine Malausséna
  • Hugo Rossi
Production
company
Insolence Productions
Distributed byBac Films
Release dates
  • 27 January 2023 (2023-01-27) (Angers)
  • 19 April 2023 (2023-04-19) (France)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Box office$555,548[1]

Plot

"Childhood pals Dog and Mirales live in a little village in the south of France and spend their days roaming the streets. To kill time, Mirales has got into the habit of teasing Dog mercilessly. Their friendship will be tested when Dog meets Elsa and romance blossoms. Consumed by jealousy, Mirales will have to break away from his past in order to grow and find his place."[2]

Cast

Production

Jean-Baptiste Durand wrote the film's screenplay, in collaboration with Nicolas Fleureau and Emma Benestan. Anaïs Bertrand produced the film for Insolence Productions.[3]

Principal photography began on 9 November 2021 in France's Hérault department, and wrapped on 10 December 2021.[3]

Release

Junkyard Dog was selected to compete in the European First Feature section at the 35th Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers,[4] where it had its world premiere on 27 January 2023.[5] It was theatrically released on 19 April 2023 by Bac Films.[6][7]

Reception

Critical response

Junkyard Dog received an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on the French website AlloCiné, based on 22 reviews.[8]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Angers European First Film Festival29 January 2023Grand Prix du juryJunkyard DogNominated[9]
Prix Jeanne Moreau (Prix du public)Won[10]
César Awards23 February 2024Best FilmNominated[11]
Best Supporting ActorAnthony BajonNominated
Best Supporting ActressGalatéa BellugiNominated
Most Promising ActorRaphaël QuenardWon
Best Original ScreenplayJean-Baptiste DurandNominated
Best First Feature FilmJunkyard DogWon
Best Original MusicDelphine MalaussénaNominated
International Cinephile Society11 February 2024Best Debut FilmJunkyard DogNominated[12]
Best Breakthrough PerformanceRaphaël QuenardNominated
Lumières Award22 January 2024Best Male RevelationWon[13]
Best First FilmJunkyard DogNominated[14]
Paris Film Critics Association Awards4 February 2024Best First FilmJean-Baptiste DurandWon[15]
Best Male RevelationRaphaël QuenardWon
Best Supporting ActorNominated[16]

References