Simultaneously elegiac and raw, this uneven--but unforgettable--tearjerker tells the story of Ingemar, a 12-year-old working-class Swedish boy sent to live with his childless aunt and uncle in a country village when his mother falls ill. Beginning with several representations of the most savage, unsentimental domestic intensity imaginable (interplay between a sick parent and loving child has never looked anywhere near as explosive), My Life as a Dog wisely doesn't attempt to maintain that level of danger; rather, the change in locale to rural Sweden is accompanied by a slackening of pace and a whimsical breeziness. Nevertheless, the tragic condition of Ingemar's mother (and later, the indeterminate fate of Sickan, his beloved dog, consigned to a kennel) hovers over the narrative with a gripping portentousness. At times, director Lasse Hallström misplaces the rhythm, and the film threatens to degenerate into a series of rustic vignettes; luckily, Ingemar's relationship with Gunnar, the jocular yet somewhat sinister uncle who essentially adopts him, carries a fascinating charge. In Swedish, with subtitles. This was later rewritten, whether intentionally or not, by Spike Lee, who changed the gender of the child, set the story in New York City, added a 1970s soul soundtrack, and called it Crooklyn. --Miles Bethany

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Note: I recommend the subtitled version over the dubbed version, as the language and inflections should be experienced in full.

59 of 68 found the following review helpful:

When bad transfers happen to good films...Mar 28, 2000
By Jason A. Thomas
This was so disappointing to me. "My Life as a Dog" was one of my all-time favorite films. I already had it on video, and wanted to have a cleaner copy on DVD, as well as some features.

! IT IS NOT, I repeat, *NOT* WIDESCREEN!

Worse, the transfer is grainy, and there seems to be little or no remastering. CRITERION would do a bang-up job on this film, it's just a shame that so many distributers can't get their act together and put a little effort into what they're doing.

If you want to hear commentary, see it in its original film ratio, or even see a decent transfer for heaven's sake, go to Criterion's web-site and send them a message that you want to see this film done right.

You might also go to Fox Lorber's web site, and let them know you expect more than VHS-on-a-disk. DVD, as a media, is in a critical state right now, and the studios are trying to see if the general public will accept bare-bones releases. We need to let them know that we won't.

16 of 17 found the following review helpful:

Heartwarming Coming-of-Age TaleJan 03, 2000
By Shirley Li
"You have to compare," the hero of the charming yet poignant coming-of-age drama concludes, "so you can keep perspective. It helps to keep a little distance." A heartwarming story of growing pains, My Life as a Dog traces the tears and laughter of a thirteen-year-old Swedish boy struggling to find balance between the gravity of death and flamboyancy of youth. Carefully expanding the path of childhood through trials of time, director Lasse Hallstrom brings forth a moving tale unfolded in the eyes of Ingemar, a captivating boy whose heartfelt concerns for dogs burgeon into love for life. Inspired by the first dog sent into space by the USSR space program, Ingemar remains unscathed by life's tragedies as he bravely embarks on a journey to fit himself into a world of complexities. Stunningly portrayed by young actor Anton Glanzelius, the energetic, insightful, and often-troubled hero comes alive seeking joy of a sad life as his mother lies dying. Even as Ingemar and his brother are sent away to different relatives in the summer to allow their weakening mother rest, Ingemar is constantly haunted by memories of a mother with a "robust, sexy laugh" who never grows tired of his stories. Ingemar temporarily finds peace in his eccentric uncle's house as he shyly steps into the light and befriends a pretty young tomboy portrayed by Melinda Kenneman, who leads a contradictory life herself trying to cope with her growing sexual urges while maintaining a tough image on the soccer team as well as boxing floor. Focussing on Ingemar's sympathy for deserted creatures such as Laika, who was left to die in space, as well as his own mutt Sikan later died in the kennel, the director skillfully narrows in on life's details drawing powerful parallels between Ingemar's alienation and the dogs' desertion. Almost taking pleasure in the ruggedness of growing-up, Glanzélius's Ingemar never ceases to find himself trapped in troubles-whether it is setting fire on trash dumps, spilling milk on himself, or crashing through the glass roof attempting to steal a glimpse of a model in nude. While peacefully observing a world in motion from the persecptive of an outsider, Ingemar gradually blends into a rural community and finds himself an inseparable part of the town's lighthearted approach to hardships after the death of her mother. Deemed not as simple tale of maturing, My Life as a Dog presents the bittersweet flavor of childhood through the clear eyes of a bittersweet boy. Despite few awkward transitions and scenes of sexual awakenings, this film touches the human heart and produces a vague echo in audiences' memories. Complemented with superb casting, My Life as a Dog refocuses society's view on children who see the world through a totally unique perspective. Of course, our hero's perspective undergoes the transition from a deserted dog to that of a human surrounded by life's warm pleasures.

32 of 38 found the following review helpful:

The Criterion version came out March 11, 2003Mar 12, 2003
By Brian J. Dworak "dvdaholic"
Any review of this DVD before that time is not worth evaluating. They may refer to the older DVD but they have nothing to do with the new Criterion. The Criterion is a far superior release in every way. The transfer is very nice, with warm colors and vibrant tones, albeit a tad soft at times. Audio is DD mono but serves it's purpose well. Extras include a 1973 film by the Director a new interview with him, a short essay by Kurt Vonnegut and the original trailer. Adults may want to screen this movie before letting their children view it as there are scenes with nudity and a few sexual situations. Then again if your kids watch foreign films then they are probably more mature than most! The only drawback I found was that about 45 minutes into the movie the subtitles start to lag behind the Swedish dialogue. This only lasts about two minutes but it can take you out of the story momentarily (hence 4 stars instead of 5). With that as the only caveat, there is no reason not to buy this wonderful new release of one of the very best childhood films ever made. Strongly recommended.

20 of 23 found the following review helpful:

A nice film by Lasse HallströmNov 05, 2004
By Ted "Ted"
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

"My Life as a Dog" known in Sweden as "Mitt Liv Som Hund" is inarguably Hallström's best known foreign language film. Though he has done other films they are American or British made. "Chocolat," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," and "Something to Talk About." He is also very well known for directing the music videos for the world famous Swedish pop group, ABBA.

The film is about a 12 year old boy in 1950's Sweden. He is very rambunctious and when his mother falls ill, his antics prevent her from recovering, so he is sent to live with his uncle. He meets new people there and makes friends with the towspeople. He often compares his misfortunes with those worse off than he is.

The film has some excelent scenes of the more rural areas Sweden and some fine photography also. It remains a very popular film to this day and has recieved or been nominated for many awards. It won a golden globe for best foreign film and was nominated for best director by the AMPAS. Though it is described by many people as a family film, it got a PG-13 rating in the US. Mainly for nudity and sexual diaglogue. There is a half second of full frontal female nudity, though non-sexual, it still may be a cause for parental concern. The other scene involves material that I feel uncomfortable mentioning but parents are urged to watch the film themselves before letting their children see it.

The special features on the Criterion DVD include Lasse Hallström's first film, "Ska vi gå hem till dej eller till mej eller var och en till sitt?" which translates to, "Shall We Go to My Place or Your Place or Each Go Home Alone?" This film has some explicit sex scenes and definately not appropriate for children.

There is also a theatrical trailer and an interview with Lasse Hallström. The liner notes also include a special notation about the film by Kurt Vonnegut.

Fans of Swedish cinema will enjoy this release.

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