# Junkyard Dog (film)

Junkyard Dog (French: Chien de la casse) is a 2023 coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Jean-Baptiste Durand in his feature-length directorial debut. The film stars Anthony Bajon, Raphaël Quenard and Galatea Bellugi. It screened at the Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers on 27 January 2023. It was released in France on 19 April 2023. It received seven nominations at the 49th César Awards, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay, and won two awards: Most Promising Actor (for Quenard) and Best First Film.

## Plot

   "Childhood pals Dog and Mirales live in a little village in the south of France and spend their days roaming the streets. To kill time, Mirales has got into the habit of teasing Dog mercilessly. Their friendship will be tested when Dog meets Elsa and romance blossoms. Consumed by jealousy, Mirales will have to break away from his past in order to grow and find his place."

## Cast

* Anthony Bajon as Dog
* Raphaël Quenard as Mirales
* Galatea Bellugi as Elsa
* Dominique Reymond as Christiane
* Bernard Blancan as Bernard
* Nathan Le Graciet as Paco
* Kader Bouallaga as Ali
* Mike Reilles as Dimitri
* Mélanie Martinez as Charlotte
* Mathieu Amilien as Enzo
* Evelina Pitti as Madame Dufour
* Marysole Fertard as Sonia

## Production

Jean-Baptiste Durand wrote the film's screenplay, in collaboration with Nicolas Fleureau and Emma Benestan. Anaïs Bertrand produced the film for Insolence Productions.
Principal photography began on 9 November 2021 in France's Hérault department, and wrapped on 10 December 2021.

## Release

Junkyard Dog was selected to compete in the European First Feature section at the 35th Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers, where it had its world premiere on 27 January 2023. It was theatrically released on 19 April 2023 by Bac Films.

## Reception
### Critical response

Junkyard Dog received an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on the French website AlloCiné, based on 22 reviews.

### Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Angers European First Film Festival | 29 January 2023 | Grand Prix du jury | Junkyard Dog | Nominated |
| Angers European First Film Festival | 29 January 2023 | Prix Jeanne Moreau (Prix du public) | Junkyard Dog | Won |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Film | Junkyard Dog | Nominated |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Anthony Bajon | Nominated |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actress | Galatéa Bellugi | Nominated |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Most Promising Actor | Raphaël Quenard | Won |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Original Screenplay | Jean-Baptiste Durand | Nominated |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best First Film | Junkyard Dog | Won |
| César Awards | 23 February 2024 | Best Original Music | Delphine Malausséna | Nominated |
| International Cinephile Society | 11 February 2024 | Best Debut Film | Junkyard Dog | Nominated |
| International Cinephile Society | 11 February 2024 | Best Breakthrough Performance | Raphaël Quenard | Nominated |
| Lumière Awards | 22 January 2024 | Best Male Revelation | Raphaël Quenard | Won |
| Lumière Awards | 22 January 2024 | Best First Film | Junkyard Dog | Nominated |
| Paris Film Critics Association Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best First Film | Jean-Baptiste Durand | Won |
| Paris Film Critics Association Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Male Revelation | Raphaël Quenard | Won |
| Paris Film Critics Association Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Raphaël Quenard | Nominated |