''Junkyard Dog'' () is a 2023

coming-of-age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can b ...

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film written and directed by Jean-Baptiste Durand in his feature-length directorial debut. The film stars Anthony Bajon,

Raphaël Quenard Raphaël Quenard (; born 16 May 1991) is a French actor. After starring in small-scale short films and television productions as well as a variety of supporting film roles, Quenard earned acclaim for his breakthrough performances in ''Junkyard Do ...

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 The 49th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, took place on 23 February 2024 at the Olympia in Paris, to honour the best French films of 2023. Valérie Lemercier presided over the ceremony, after ...

, including

Best Film The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...

and

Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for the best screenplay not based upon previously published material. It was created in 1940 as a separate writing award from the Academy Award for Best ...

, and won two awards: Most Promising Actor (for Quenard) and Best First Film.

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."

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.

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

began on 9 November 2021 in France's

Hérault Hérault (; , ) is a departments of France, department of the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault (river), Hérault River, its Prefectures in France, prefecture is M ...

department, and wrapped on 10 December 2021.

Release

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

Bac Films BAC Films is a French film production and distribution company. Based in Paris, the company was founded in 1986 by Jean Labadie, Éric Heumann, and Stéphane Sorlat. Capital shares of the company were re-allocated in 1988 when Vivendi took 10% ...

Reception

Critical response

''Junkyard Dog'' received an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on the French website

AlloCiné AlloCiné is an entertainment website founded by Jean-David Blanc in 1988, then joined by Patrick Holzman. It has belonged to the company since 2013 Webedia. which specializes in providing information on French cinema, mostly centering on nove ...

, based on 22 reviews.

Accolades

References

External links

* * * {{Portal bar, France, Film, 2020s 2023 films 2023 comedy-drama films 2023 directorial debut films 2020s coming-of-age comedy-drama films 2020s French films 2020s French-language films French coming-of-age comedy-drama films BAC Films films Films about friendship Films set in Occitania (administrative region) Films shot in Hérault Best First Feature Film César Award winners