River Dog
Directors
River Dog
Directors
Daniel Hunter and James MuirBest New Zealand Short Film Award and the People's Choice Award 2011 Reel Earth Film Festival
Who is the river dog? The farmers who think it is okay to break the law and let their stock wander the
Pahaoa River for free grazing. Their neighbour Grant Muir whose greatest passions are the river and his dogs. Or is the dogs whose job it is to chase the cattle back off Muir’s property.In a sense Muir is a dogged personality, committed to a never ending battle to keep cattle out of the river which they pollute.
River Dog is an eloquent film which understands that the best way to hearts is through poetry. Its simplicity is both poetic and necessary, as directors
Daniel Hunter and James Muir had to ensure they did not put themselves in a legally vulnerable position.River Dogs is part Country Calendar and part Weiner Herzog. It’s a beautiful film that doesn’t labour its point - it doesn’t have to.
The most telling is that a law unpoliced is worse than no law at all - a signal to farmers that they can do as they please with impunity.