Heart of a Dog
Director: Laurie Anderson
Talent: n/a
Release Date: 20th May
Laurie Anderson might be better known for her musical output than her filmmaking, but with Heart of a Dog she has managed a feat beyond what one could imagine as the abilities of even the finest directors: she has made a documentary about her own dog that is at once profound, funny and genuinely moving. Of course, the film isn’t just about Anderson’s pet terrier Lolabelle. It’s about love, loss, music, half-remembered childhood memories and post-9/11 America, amongst other things. Anderson uses her relationship with Lolabelle to segue into reflections on these far-reaching topics in a style that is at once playful and intelligent, relaxed and thoughtful. Despite its slight running time and ostensibly slight subject matter, Heart of a Dog is a film of rare insight and humanity, buoyed by the exceptional warmth of Anderson’s voiceover narration.
Words: Oisín Murphy-Hall
