THE PLAGUE DOGS

I have a soft spot for animals. At times I think they are more noble than men, as they live an existence that is very clear and basic. Their affections are true, they can sense despair, and they are, in the end, loyal. Domesticated animals have put an implicit level of trust in us to take care of them, as we've robbed them of their ability to survive in the wild. Understanding this, I am puzzled and terrified by those who abuse animals, those who exert an unfair balance of power upon creatures that place their faith in men.

If an abused animal ever had a voice, it was best heard in Martin Rosen's long forgotten animated classic, THE PLAGUE DOGS. Made in 1982 on a low budget, the film is an adaptation of Richard Adams' novel of the same title, and features the voice talents of John Hurt, Patrick Stewart, Nigel Hawethorn and Christopher Benjamin.

The story begins with an odd scene of a black Labrador Retriever paddling in a large water tank. The dog collapses with exhaustion, and sinks to the bottom of the tank. We hear the voices of men in the background, crunching scientific data and mentioning something about endurance tests. The dog is fished out of the tank with a long hook and resuscitated, and thrown back into his pen where there are hundreds of other dogs.

The dog is Rawf (voiced by Christopher Benjamin), and he mumbles to his neighbor, Snitter (John Hurt), a skittery terrier who has a bandage that covers the top of his scalp. Rawf talks of "Whitecoats", the men who subject the cruel and punishing tests to these animals, and in his exhaustion he talks of killing them.

And this is our welcome to the world of THE PLAGUE DOGS, one where noble creatures are subject to the mores and depravities of mankind. The tone of this film and story is established from the outset- this is a dark film, a grim story, and one where we know our two protagonists will be tested (both literally and figuratively) to their breaking points. This is not THE LION KING, and viewers beware: the film pulls no punches.

Snitter and Rawf are lab test animals, and they are imprisoned, along with monkeys, rats, and rabbits, in a secret laboratory located within a government sanctioned park in the Lake District in the UK. The two dogs, through sheer determination and delusion, manage to escape from the lab. Snitter, a dog who once had a master, seeks the memories of comfort and joy that he knew before a tragedy landed him in the testing facility. Rawf, a dog who knows little of the outside world, carries a chip upon his shoulder and a deathly fear of water. The dogs escape to the open, and realize that because of the efforts of men, they are ill equipped to live in the wild. They make the ultimate decision- they must revert to their wild nature and kill, or else they shall starve.

The transition is not easy, and the pair enlist the help of a clever fox, known simply as The Tod. With the assistance of The Tod the trio manage to kill several sheep. Unknown to the animals however is that these sheep belong to local farmers, who become distressed over the loss of several sheep. They organize a hunt to capture and kill the predators of their livelihood.

Meanwhile another crisis brews in the government, as they fear that the release of two dogs from the test facility would bring a wave of negative awareness to the treatment of the animals. The media investigation into the matter goes from base curiosity to panic, and the game of telephone result in the start of a nasty rumor: the dogs may carry fleas that carry the plague. The remainder of the film is a thrilling chase with two goals: the dogs to find their freedom, and the humans to cover up their crimes.

I won't divulge which goal sees fruition, but I can disclose that THE PLAGUE DOGS has one of the most emotional and moving endings I've ever seen, live or animated. In the end I was reaffirmed of the cruelty of man, but also the blessings of friendship and kindness, and the ebullience of freedom and independence. It is the culmination of a relationship that is based upon pure kindness and compassion, one of survival and fraternity. It damn near made me cry.

THE PLAGUE DOGS avoids the traps of other films that anthropomorphize animals. Films like BABE and the countless Disney films make us empathize with the animals as people, with human emotions and human desires. Rawf and Snitter do not share the desires of humans, rather they share the desires of animals- to be fed, to be loved, and to be free. They never stray from these desires, as it is their unalienable right. The dogs do not serve as a metaphor for human behaviour, rather they are the recipients of it, and their reactions seem authentic and true. Credit goes to the masterful voice work and the naturalistic animation. Rosen and his band of animators manage to capture small details that are true to dogs, and they create characters that are natural, effortless, and ultimately believable.

THE PLAGUE DOGS was little seen, probably because it was too intense for children, and contained far too much veracity for adults. It is an odd film with no real home, much like its protagonists. But it belongs in our lives. We see in this film good dogs that want- and need- a good home, and the love that they shall bestow in return is limitless. We see that when man tampers with nature, the ramifications can be cruel and unbecoming, and they expose us as monsters. If you previously were ambivalent about animal testing by cosmetics and commercial entities, then after seeing THE PLAGUE DOGS your mind will truly change. This is a shattering, poignant piece of work, and the most powerful work of animation that I'd seen since the masterpiece GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES.

The film is not an easy watch, nor will children be able to comprehend the complexities of the emotions on display. But it is an important work nonetheless, and worthy of time and discussion. You may not be happy after watching THE PLAGUE DOGS, but you will feel more complete and enlightened for having experienced it. I can't say that about too many films.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to go hug my cat.