FEAST ON...

Sometimes, men can be literal dogs! Prolific Argentine filmmaker Marco Berger (Astronaut Lovers, AQFF24) returns with this homoerotic, absurd fable about affection, desire, and one very obedient man.

While on holiday with friends, Juan (Germán Flood) finds a beautiful, naked man (Juan Ramos) in the garden of their holiday rental, who needs affection. While his girlfriend warns him to not get too attached, he warms to the beautiful man and forms a bond. This man, the titular dog (‘perro’), becomes both a literal and metaphorical symbol of instinct, possession, and dominance, reinforcing the primal undercurrents that ripple through the film. The man bathes him, gets down on all fours, pants, and obeys commands.

This is a stylistic departure for Berger. While his earlier work often explores ambiguous, homoerotic tension, affection here is foregrounded to explore themes of loyalty and possession. Shot in black and white, the film’s naturalism is layered with offbeat humour and surreal flourishes. This quirky premise soon gives way for intense intimacy between the two men. As always, Margo Berger is a master of the homoerotic slow burn.

Sit. Stay. Watch. Who’s a good boy?

South Australian Premiere
Languages: Spanish
English Subtitles