by Imtiaz Popat
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is a historical drama from a point of view of a young girl during colonial African period. The film chronicles the experiences of the white Fuller family at the end of the Rhodesian colonial era as the country became Zimbabwe and regained independence from the United Kingdom, a young girl deal with a dysfunctional and bigoted family.
Directed by and starring Embeth Davidtz as the matriarch, Nicola Fuller. As the young Alexandra “Bobo” Fuller, the young Lexi Venter give a moving performance. Actress and filmmaker Embeth Davidtz has crafted a unique drama about colonial occupation, family and race relations.
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is a historical perspective in this fictionalized dram looing at how Bobo grows up and how she handles the challenges that are thrown her way which includes witnessing her sister (Anina Reed) experience something very strange which happens right in front of Bobo’s eyes. While the film explores issues of race and wealth, it is more of a character study than anything else that shows Bobo’s trials and tribulations growing up in very different surroundings than most kids like her are accustomed to. Lexi Venter brings this character to life in a way that is nothing short of fascinating for the viewer to behold.
As someone who grew up in post colonial Tanzania of Indian heritage, this film give us a better understanding of colonial settlement, weather it in Africa, South Asia or North America.