This film paints a portrait of what reality is like for a younger individual to be faced with poverty. On some level this truthful portrait hurts, but at the same time, it is eerie. Written and directed by Embeth Davidtz, she is legendary as she also plays one of the leads. The pacing of the film in an austere setting is done artfully. The harsh environment spirals to reveal honesty.

The film is based on a memoir focused on a young girl named Bobo (played by Lexi Venter) who tells the story. Bobo is an eight-year-old living with her family on a Rhodesian (now Zimbwawe) farm. At a very young age, she is exposed to extreme poverty. Her mother is Mrs. Fuller (Davidtz). The film highlights hardship and politics in an era before technological advancements.

What came to mind while watching this film was the theme of working hard for a purpose. Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight portrays inequality in a realistic way that creates empathy. The story demonstrates resilience. It is by far one of the best features presenting the effects of poverty during childhood. The film’s subject is a great discussion starter, because the audience gets to see the world through the eyes of an eight-year-old surroundedby drugs, harsh language, and parents who provoke objectionable behavior in a country where harsh conditions are the norm. When seeing this film at The Chicago Critics Film Festival, it moved me to think more politically and empathetically.