Street Dogs of South Central

A wildlife documentary set in a concrete jungle, Bill Marin’s involving account of Los Angeles’ 30,000 homeless dogs leaves us to question, "How well do we actually know our supposed best friends?" The behaviour seen here—scaling fences, foraging in trash cans, living in vacant lots, bolting between onrushing cars—would likely have Cesar Millan fuming rather than whispering. However, as we learn, this is how these abandoned canines have adapted in order to prevail on some of America’s most cold-blooded, crime-ridden streets. An animal behaviourist, Marin’s frequent visits to South Central left him determined to share the stories of the dogs who roam wild there. The resulting film unfolds entirely from the dogs’ perspective, with humans rarely glimpsed (although Queen Latifah delivers some compassionate narration). With its probing cinematography, Street Dogs explores how these animals’ highly social nature is also their saving grace. When Marin’s spry camera isn’t running with motley packs of mutts, it returns time and again to Elsie, a Black Labrador mix raising her litter in nearly unthinkable conditions. As we watch her progeny grow from carefree pups to capable adults, we’re ultimately left with a greater understanding of these animals’ extraordinary survival instincts and fierce determination… "The film is about family, survival and love… I think everyone can relate to that."—Bill Marin