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Lætitia Dosch, director, actress and co-writer, gives us a unique work with “The Trial of the Dog”. Shot in Lausanne, the film shows our relationship to animals and the place of women, while offering a touching and intelligent comedy. She was my guest.
The film follows Avril, a lawyer specializing in hopeless cases who sees a dog handler arrive in her office. The animal bit a woman, and the latter filed a complaint. “The lawyer will be able to prove that the dog is not a thing,” explains Lætitia Dosche. “And the judge will say, if it’s not one thing, it turns out it’s an individual. So he possibly has responsibility for his actions, so we have to put the dog on trial.”
A choice cast
Alongside Lætitia Dosch and François Damiens, we find Jean-Pascal Zaddy and Anne Dorval. François Damiens, in the role of a visually impaired dog handler, had to “hold that during 30 days of filming while acting”, says the director. Jean-Pascal Zaddy, “super sexy in real life”, brings a touch of charm and sensitivity to his character. Anne Dorval, for her part, plays a far-right lawyer, a caricatured but dangerous role.
Perhaps the real hero of the film is Cody, the dog. “I have never seen a dog with so much emotional spectrum,” enthuses Lætitia Dosch. Cody, a twelve-breed mongrel, was adopted by trainers after growing up on the streets. “He understands when we say ‘cut,’” she adds, emphasizing the animal’s incredible ability to play.
Reflect on our relationship with animals
“The Trial of the Dog” asks essential questions about our relationship with life. “Are we projecting a lot of things onto these animals, or at the same time do they have a conscience?” asks Lætitia Dosch. The film also explores the hierarchies between domestic animals, liminal animals, and wild animals, and how these distinctions influence our treatment of different species.
Beyond the animal question, “The Trial of the Dog” also addresses ecological and feminist themes. “I find it amazing when I think about it that we only represent 0.99% of living beings on this Earth, less than one percent,” marvels Lætitia Dosch. She also highlights the parallels between women and dogs in her film, exploring how women, like animals, are often pushed aside and must struggle to find their voice.
Filmed in French-speaking Switzerland
The film is shot in Lausanne, a city that Lætitia Dosch loves. “We filmed it a bit like a little New York,” she says. She describes Lausanne as a cosmopolitan place, where “people are dressed chic and they have mountain shoes”. This city, with its districts like Flon and Riponne, offers a unique and charming setting for the film.
“The Trial of the Dog” is a film that makes you laugh, think and probably shed a tear, all in 1 hour 20 minutes!
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