Dog of Flanders

This famous short story follows a hard-working Belgian boy Nello, whose ambition is to be a great painter, namely this case, Reubens. Through the boy is loved by his grandfather Daas and his girlfriend Aloise, and not least his Bouvier dog Patrasche, his life is not an easy one, bringing milk to the town every day with Patrasche pulling the cart. One day, he is "found" by a graet master of painting Michell (Jon Voight with a hevey accent), and Nello learns from the master that there is an annual contest for aspiring painters. But while he was trying to finish his work, a tragic accident happens to his life.

The film makes great changes to the original short story (especially the ending), but how you respond to that liberty will depend on your judgement. The fact that the critical reaction was at best very luckwarm proves that adults viewers might find this one very ordinary and mundane, and probably the film deserves better treatment. Though the locations are perfect, the story looks too banal, and -- this is more important -- it doesn't know its audience. Parents might be uncomfortable to see a dog is beaten by a drunken guy, or most of all, the secret of Nello's parentage is revealed. In fact, Nello's mother comes back home in the opening blizzard scene with a baby Nello -- clearly an echo of "Oliver Twist" -- but some kids (under the age of 3-6) may find it hard to understand why she think she is "disgraced" (the film uses this word at the end). Strangely Victorian here, but anyway, not a big matter, though.

As a whole, "A Dog of Flanders" is a satisfactry movie for older kids, and though it shows its hands too predictable way, the story itself is good, and it conveys surely its messages to kid's heart. The leading actors are in good form, and the dog is ... er ... very unique. so if you like dogs, you may be interested. And for adult viewers like me, it is a good thing to see Cheryl Ladd (ex-Chalie's Angels) again.

[ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ENDING OF THE FILM: COULD BE A SPOILER ... MAYBE NOT]

The Japanese version of this film has a different ending, which imdb doesn't seem to record. Japanese version doesn't have the last 5 minutes of the American counterpart, making the ending faithful to the original book. This is because this story is a vastly loved one in Japan owing to its very popular TV series made about 20 years ago, and every Japanese viewer knows its original ending. Producers, therefore, must have judged it unwise to "compromise" its ending as its new American version does. The actual difference is as follows:

Japanese version: Nello meets his mother again; they hug each other; (then the film directly jumps to the final cut of American film showing statue of Ruebens); two lights, presumably souls of them, going up to the Heaven; end credit rolls up.

This is a minor thing, I know, but it is intersting to note this differnce between Japanese and American sensibility.

And if you like this one, you may watch older version made in 1959. There is a Japanese animated version (2000) too, and this fact testifies to its popularity of this story. The original writer Ouida (a pen name for Louise De LaRamee, Bristish writer) herself loved dogs so much, and she is known for her life surrounded by dogs in Italy when she was old and impoverished. Check out the book too, if you like.


Aboaned,Misguied,Blamed ,and worst of all he suffered it!   March 28, 2002
 7 out of 13 found this review helpful

Young Nello Daas and his mother Mary Daas were very poor they were both aboaned bye the anoymous father of Nello.Soon Mary travels too her father's house .6 years later Nello is now about 6 or 7 his mother is dead and he is living as a traveler milk seller .He is so happy until oddly his world comes crashing down very soon a new chacter arrives on the scene Master Stephens a very sturub man who makes Nello and his grandfather pay the rent.3 years later Nello is soon misguied bye his best friend Aloise's father .Later on the shed was caught on fire in the middle of the night .Nello was blamed soon Nello realize's that he won't become a great artist.With that he looses a art contest ,but things look up when he finds a wallet.knowing it is Master Cogez wallet he returns it then runs .This is not a drama master piece .But in 1999 Kevin Brodie did win a Oscar for this film .No it's not a masterpiece but it did win a Oscar and this is all it needs .1.A Good Title 2.Great Actors 3.Terrific Music 4.Some religon mentioned 5.Action 6.Must be emotional 7.A award 8.Romace is good 9.A good intersing plot last but not least A good feeling.This movie just still sends chills up my spine .Just watching how Nello struggles and how he starts too relize that he is loved and that he does have a father that loves him dearly. This on a scale of 1 to 10 a perfect 10!!!!


It sword of grows on you .   November 26, 2001
 3 out of 6 found this review helpful

I was scrolling through my channel guide but then I stopped at HBO thinking it was just weird I passed it about 4 minutes later I thought I have too at least watch it one time I only saw the ending of it but that was good ,so at 12:00 I went too HBO west that time I only saw the scene where Nello and Alosie woke up at the circus ,after her father forbidden too let her see Nello ever again Alosie had only one memory the pitcure that week Nello gave Alosie a puppet . That night the barn caught on fire , everyone in the town blamed Nello for the causing of the inferno . Alosie's father broke Alosie's puppet then went back inside. Enough with the story but on the scale of 1 too 10 I would give it a perfect 10 !


Shouldn't be pg   April 29, 2001
 1 out of 9 found this review helpful

This movie shouldn't be pg it should be pg13. I mean there are very bad scenes and in the beginning it is extremely boring and goody goody, but at the end it's all tragic and sad. I don't like it.