Dog Altogether

Self-awareness through a painful awakening process is the theme of actor-turned-writer/director Paddy Considine’s tale of woe, which depicts the transformation of a violent, racist, impoverished and paranoid alcoholic played by Peter Mullan. After a momentary loss of self-control, Mullan’s ‘Robert’ begins to realise his personality and lifestyle have a terrible impact on others as he angers and frightens those he comes into contact with. Seized by this sudden illumination he falls to pieces and takes refuge by hiding, effectively from himself, in a Christian charity shop run by Peep Show’s Olivia Coleman. It’s here he may find some form of redemption.

Mullan, as usual, blends his trademark emotional rawness and understatement of gesture to powerful effect as his character heads toward a moving emotional climax. Considine clearly has talent behind the camera as well as in front of it and Like Mullan’s performance it’s a nicely understated piece (despite the brief moments of violence) and like the closing scene in Youth, I felt this was a character I wanted to see more of, whose story and journey might justify a feature length exploration.