Jacques Thelemaque's The Dogwalker is one of those films that stands on its own next to anything being churned out by the studios, but still runs the risk of going largely unseen. Diane Gaidry stars as Ellie, a hard-luck woman fleeing from a troubled life. As the film opens, Ellie is literally on the run, racing through the airport at Buffalo, New York, looking to hop a plane anywhere. Ellie's battered and bruised face tells us all we need to know about the life she is leaving behind, and as she arrives in Los Angeles her helplessness and a serious of bad decisions indicate what has certainly been a self-destructive life. Fleeing another one of her bad choices, a drunken Ellie finds herself drunkenly stumbling into a park where she passes out. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds that she is in a dog park where she soon meets the gruff Betsy (Pamela Gordon), an aging woman who makes a living caring for other people's dogs. Ellie and Betsy form an unlikely friendship, in part because they both come a similar life of abuse and shattered self-esteem, and as the two spend more time together, Ellie begins to grow as a person.

The Dogwalker is a quiet character study that charts the personal, emotional and spiritual growth of one person. It would be easy for a film of this nature to fall apart under the weight of heavy-handed dialog and sanctimonious musings of the writer-director. But Thelemaque's script manages to steer clear of over-wrought dialog, and even though the story itself does not venture anywhere unexpected, he is careful to not boldly shout his intentions in every frame of every scene. I think the word for that is "subtlety."

The combination of Thelemaque's direction and Marco Fargnoli's cinematography work to create a wonderfully stylish visual experience. The strong visual dynamic of The Dogwalker, when brought into play with the performances of Gaidry and Gordon, make for a solid film experience. This is the sort of film that had it starred someone like Naomi Watts or Kate Winslett, would have become a breakout indie hit. But the truth is that The Dogwalker doesn't need stars of that caliber to be what it is, which is a very good movie.

Video:
The Dogwalker is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The movie was shot on digital video, but it is hard to tell that is was not actually shot on film.

Audio:
The Dogwalker is presented in Doldby Digital 5.1. The sound mix is clean with consistent levels throughout, and superior to many films with far larger budgets.

Extras:
The Dogwalker is a very good film that warrants being seen, but it really delivers a treasure of bonus material. There are two audio commentaries, one with Thelemaque solo, and one with the director and lead actress Gaidry. The commentary with Thelemaque and Gaidry focuses more on anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories surrounding the production. Thelemaque's solo commentary deals more with the aesthetics of the film, and the choices he made as a filmmaker. Both commentaries are solid, but I would recommend listening to the Thelemaque and Gaidry commentary first, as it is more likely to answer some of the more obvious questions that come with watching the film. Thelemaque's commentary is more for other filmmakers than it is for a casual audience, but that does not mean it is not worth checking out. There are also bonus interviews, which like the commentary offer interesting background into the making of the film. A collection of deleted scenes that help develop Ellie's character, but in watching them it becomes clear that while they are all solid scenes, they create an unneeded distraction. Several of the scenes involve the abusive ex-boyfriend she is leaving, a create a tone that if they remained in the film, would have run dangerously close to making The Dogwalker become a bit too melodramatic and obvious.

The real treat among the bonus offerings are the four short films by Thelemaque. These films are in their own ways as good, and at times better than The Dogwalker itself. As odd as it may seem, the shorts are what makes this DVD worth owning. Without the short films I would most likely encourage people to rent The Dogwalker, but the shorts are entertaining enough in their own right, that I would actually encourage some people to consider purchasing the disc instead.

Final Thoughts:
If you are the sort of person who enjoys watching films multiple times, The Dogwalker, due in large part to the bonus short films by Jacques Thelemaque, is worth adding to your collection. This is definitely a film for those who enjoy independent films that favor character over bombastic action, so if car chases and explosions are your thing, this is not a film you'll want to see.