THE BIG DOG

Australia, 2023, 83 minutes, Colour.

Julian Garner, Felicity Price, Asher Boswarva, Michael Monk.

Directed by Dane McCusker.

The Big Dog is a brief Australian comedy with serious undertones and satiric overtones. The dog of the title lives next door to the family, continually barking throughout the film – and attempts to silence it, temporary permanently. And that is the climax to the film!

However, this is a story of Richard, Julian Garner, a middle-aged stockbroker who is not particularly successful at his work, is unsettled in his marriage, has a lazy son who is turning 18.

But, the key to the film is Richard and his going online with a dominatrix, Princess Paige, Asha Boswarva, platonic because always online, but some ludicrous interactions, his being humiliated, she relishing her power, especially in emptying his account which has serious consequences with his wanting to buy a lavish car for his son, revealing to his wife that the account is empty.

The action takes place over the one day, his wife, Felicity Price, trying to prepare a meal for the party and her husband not cooperating, her discovering the truth, and some resentment that she had not been able to pursue studies in the past, stifling her life as wife and mother. She discovers her husband’s behaviour as does her son who approaches the dominatrix and propositions her.

At the end, the dominatrix comes to the house, and the tone of the film seems to change to something of a dramatisation of a therapy session, Richard confronting his behaviour, his limitations, the consequences.

So, Richard is a blend of the serious and the ludicrous. The screenplay and direction are by first-time writer-director, Dane McCusker.

1. The title, the presence of the dog, continued barking, and the attempts to get rid of it? The finale? Setting the tone of the film?
2. The setting, the harbour mansions, the streets and views, interiors? The contrast with the scene for the dominatrix? The musical score?
3. The tone of the film, the underlying serious themes, the satirical presentation of the characters and their behaviour, interactions?
4. Richard’s story, age, long marriage, lazy son, taking after his father, tensions with his wife? Ability as a stockbroker – or not? A day in the life of…?
5. Richard, the computer, online, the dominatrix, the tone of their interactions, platonic, humiliation, but the issue of money, Princess Paige and her control of his finances, emptying out his account? The consequences for him? Not having the money to buy the car he promised his son? Tensions with his wife, the preparation of the party, no invitations? The meal, cooking? His not concentrating? Phone call to his relative, the plea for the money, expectations of failure?
6. Princess Paige, online, the dominatrix, her personality, commands – serious but the touch of the ludicrous? And Richard’s ludicrous responses? Seeing her in real life, the conversations with her roommate? Her work? Social work, political attitudes?
7. Sam, in bed, dark room, lazy, his birthday, taking life for granted, interactions with his parents, the discovery of the link, the approach to Paige, the sexual approach and reaction?
8. The day, getting worse for Richard, his wife discovering the truth, her response, interactions with Richard? With Sam? Her resentments about the marriage, Richard’s domination, her not being able to study and have a career?
9. Paige and her arriving, her personality, less the dominatrix, more ordinary?
10. The final part of the film, something of therapy session and style? The results?
11. The finale and Richard and his wanting to get rid of the dog?