The 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs until 16March2025.
“Small Dogs Bark Loud” is a Norwegian documentary deserving categorization as a successful children’s documentary and even more appealing as it doesn’t leave the adult viewer drowning in syrupy and overly simplistic platitudes.
Tuni, a twelve-year-old, lives with her family undergoing challenges leaving Tuni with some anxiety and fear. Her older brother she thought so happy and adventurous committed suicide. Her mother’s liver cancer is worsening. Tuni realizing the concept of time as a limited commodity devises a comforting bucket list.
Her companion and confidant to express her emotions is a tiny white Maltipoo Chihuahua mix, Salto acquired a year after her brother’s suicide. Tuni has an attitude and he acts far larger than his size challenging larger dogs and farm animals with a less than ferocious bark which is less a bark and more of a yap!
Salto is cute and immediately attractive to a child and even more attractive as he engages in conversation with Pus the family cat, other dogs and farm animals. His mission is to protect and care for Tuni.
Tuni has difficult issues to manage including suicide, serious illness and her various related anxieties. The importance of family, companionship, loyalty compassion, friendship and adversity are dealt with in the documentary in both a serious manner yet with levity brought about by that cute fluffball Salto. Many children face similar issues and “Small Dogs Bark Loud” tackles them so very gently any rough edges smoothed out by that loveable Salto. Serious enough to engage adults.
A journey of healing.
My take is that it is attractive to the 8–12-year-old child and parental companions.
This 75-minute Norwegian documentary is directed by Nora Tvedt Nivedita.
RKS 2025 Documentary Film Rating 88/100.
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