Plot
A documentary portrait of the late John Wojtowicz, whose attempted robbery of a Brooklyn bank to finance his male lover's sex-reassignment surgery was the real-life inspiration for Dog Day Afternoon (1975).
Saw this film at the New York Film Festival. Wasn't totally sure what
to expect. I had never seen "Dog Day Afternoon" but loved "The French
Connection" and films set in the "grittier" New York of the 70s and
80s.
As a recent New York transplant I've become increasingly fascinated
with the city and it's not so distant past.
Anyway that's the background. First off I'll say that "The Dog" really
took me by surprise. What a great look inside the life of a really
fascinating character.
Hilarious, vulgar but unapologetic the film fully captures a very very
complicated and contradictory character. Not really knowing the
background of "The Dog" I was surprised at how much the film is also
about gay life and the gay "revolution" that was taking place in NYC at
the time. Presented without politics or nostalgia the film really
reminded me that before the recent strides gays and lesbians have made
- the path towards acceptance and equal rights was paved by some really
wacky - and not entirely savory - misfits, outcasts and maniacs!!
After watching "The Dog" I went out and rented "Dog Day
Afternoon"...really fantastic film. Having seen that film I can say
that "The Dog" is a must see for fans of "Dog Day Afternoon" and lovers
of NYC!
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