The Last Dog
The Last Dog is a documentary about a man named Peter who is in his seventies. His dog has just died and he decides he will never own another dog in his lifetime. However, a friend takes him to view a litter of Saint Bernard puppies. He falls in love with one of them and names the puppy Hawthorn. The impulsive act to give in to the immediate attraction of a puppy transforms Peter's life and enriches him and his community in many ways. Peter lives in a small town in Ontario called Listowel. He is a contributing member in the community where he is a support worker, assisting people with special needs. Peter is also a experienced painter. His past life experience, including WWll internment in Japanese prison camps, civil war in Indonesia, refugee status in Australia, repatriation to the Netherlands and finally, immigration to Canada, play a role in his reaction to his community. The documentary explores endings and beginnings and above all, renewal. It deals with time, memory and aging. The Last Dog is directed and produced by Gavin Shaw who previously made the documentary Cinemall about fans of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. The music is by Carlo Carosi. It was shot in and around Listowel, Ontario.
