White God is an intrepid and incisive thriller. Blisteringly beautiful, brutal and bizarre, it achieves the intimacy and meticulousness essential to crystallize unspoken communication and potent imagery.

Symbols abound to powerful effect; social and racial allegory, muzzled minorities, dystopian imports and vendetta horror are rendered with satirical inference and visual humour. Although hilarity can feel discordant, hyperbolic developments marginally far-fetched and intended violence sporadically uneven compared with earlier realism, the film’s aberrance inspires acceptance.

Hagen (portrayed by Luke and Body) is expressive and mesmerising; the dedicated training of over 100 dogs exemplifies individual personalities and is subtly astonishing.

Imaginative, energetic and ambitious, White God is mysterious, unique and ethically perplexing. Warning dog lovers: some scenes may be distressing.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Zsófia Psotta, Sándor Zsótér, Szabolcs Thuróczy, Lili Monori, Lili Horváth

DIRECTOR: Kornél Mundruczó

WRITERS: Kornél Mundruczó, Viktória Petrányi, Kata Wéber

SYNOPSIS: When Lili (Psotta) is obliged to stay with her father he is disinclined to house her mixed-breed dog Hagen. After a confrontation he makes the impetuous decision to leave Hagen by the side of the road; this sets in motion a string of ill-fated events that culminate in canine insurrection and revenge, sending Hungary to the dogs.