Dogs not only bring people together but also help us heal from loss and grief. The Friend movie dog story, based on the bestselling novel by Sigrid Nunez, highlights the deep emotional bond between a grieving woman and a Great Dane. It shows how love, loss, and unexpected friendship can transform a life.
Bleecker Street produced and released the film in March; it focuses on Iris, a writer and teacher played by Naomi Watts. Iris’ comfortable, solitary New York life falls apart after her closest friend and mentor, Walter (Bill Murray), takes his own life. He unexpectedly leaves her his beloved 150-pound Great Dane, Apollo.
While processing her grief, anger, and sorrow, Iris finds herself grappling with Apollo, who she initially doesn’t want. Living in a small Manhattan apartment that doesn’t allow animals presents her with the threat of eviction, among other problems.
Iris desperately tries to find a new home for the giant dog. But as the weeks go by, she starts to bond with Apollo and realizes she can’t give him up. After all, he’s the only other creature who understands the depth of her loss, and who also loved Walter.
One challenge the filmmakers faced was finding the right dog to portray Apollo. Producers Scott McGehee, David Siegel and Mike Spreter needed a dog capable of delivering a one-of-a-kind performance that would anchor the emotional relationship at the center of the movie.
“Scott and I both love dogs,” says Siegel. “That was really the attraction of the book — the dog. It’s not a story where the dog is goofy or does funny tricks or winds up getting into mischief. This dog is a sad character who needs to come out of his shell and open up to the world.”
The producers contacted Great Dane organizations across the country. They were looking for a Harlequin Great Dane that matched Nunez’ description of Apollo. This is a rare breed and finding one that could convincingly portray a heartbroken dog took nearly six months.
Finally, their search led them to a young Great Dane named Bing and his person, Bev Klingensmith, who live in Newton, Iowa.
“Bing was raised lovingly in a family environment, so he’s very well socialized,” says McGehee. “Some of the other dogs we met — more professional dogs, show dogs — didn’t have the centered, gentle, human-like connection we found in Bing.”
As the film progresses, Iris’ affection for Apollo deepens. She begins coming to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life. The blossoming relationship between Iris and her new canine friend lies at the heart of The Friend movie dog story.
Photos courtesy of Bleecker Street
