There are many reasons why people have to give away their dog. Families have to leave the area for work and can’t take their dogs. Or there’s a baby that turns out to be allergic to the pet. Sometimes it is a personality clash. The owners may have passed away. People do try their best to find someone they can trust to take care of their beloved dog. But it is so hard to know what will happen to your pet in their new life. It’s not like they can pick up the phone and give you an update on their life. In 1930s Germany after Hitler and the Nazis took control, they instituted rules on citizens that were Jewish. Among the Nuremberg Laws was an order that they couldn’t own pets such as dogs. Shepherd: The Story of A Hero Dog is a tale about the fate of a dog that’s separated from his family during this time.
Joshua (The Nun‘s August Maturo) is excited because his family’s German Shepherd dog has just given birth to pups and dad is letting him keep one. He’s named the puppy Caleb and they are inseparable until Hitler gets in the way. The family is Jewish and are informed that they can no longer own a dog. They find someone they trust to take Caleb except it doesn’t quite work out. The wife of Caleb’s new family isn’t happy with having a Jewish dog in the house. This ultimately leads to Caleb having a life on the streets. The dog attempts to go home except Joshua and his family are no longer in their posh apartment. Eventually the dog finds a new home except it’s part of the Nazi military. Ralph (Inglorious Basterds‘ Ken Duken) A trainer teaches him how to be a guard dog. This new job eventually leads to Caleb and Joshua reuniting on less than happy terms. Is Caleb still the dog from his puppy days?
The movie is based on Asher Kravitz’s novel Jewish Dog and feels aimed for a younger audience. Most of the movie is taken from Caleb’s perspective. We even get flashbacks from the dog’s life. The film doesn’t get brutal when the location changes to a Concentration Camp. There’s harsh emotional moments and major tension in the bleak life behind the fences. The best part of the film is the dog that plays Caleb. The dog goes through a lot from being just a normal house pet to a survivalist and finally a tool for the Third Reich. You’re pulling for the dog to remember his roots and not get sucked into his new job. You want the reunion to work. Shepherd: The Story of A Hero Dog reminds you that the worst way you can lose your pet is Hitler taking them away.
The Video is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The film has a good texture as we go from a posh apartment to a concentration camp. The audio is DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 mix. You can hear the dog’s barks clearly. The movie is subtitled.
Trailer (1:46) sets up the happy family with their dogs and then the mandate that banned Jewish people from owning pets.
Image Gallery (5:32) is a montage of production photos.
Shout! Factory presents Shepherd: The Story of A Hero Dog. Directed by Lynn Roth. Screenplay by Lynn Roth. Starring August Maturo, Ken Duken, Ayelet Zurer, Ádám Porogi, Viktória Stefanovszky, Lois Robbins, Miklós Béres and Gábor Nagypál. Rating: Not Rated. Running Time: 94 minutes. Release Date: February 14, 2023.
