'Stray Dog', a story about a war veteran and biker with a big heart, in International Competition

27.01.2015.

The film portrays Ron ‘Stray Dog’ Hall, a Vietnam war veteran and a biker from a trailer park in Missouri, who attracted the director’s attention when she was filming 'Winter’s Bone', with his appearance in it.

In this observational and emotional documentary Granik provides an insight into the American life on the margins and an intimate view of a life of an ‘ordinary’ man with a big heart who struggles with Vietnam war heritage. Behind a rough appearance there is man of unpretentious kindness and exceptional compassion, who dedicated his life to helping other veterans and their families. However, also a person with a heavy ‘burden’ and unforgettable war memories.

The film emotionally traces his way of coping with the war consequences, his own demons and conscience, and explains the personal process of regret, accepting what he cannot change and forgiveness.

Every year Stray Dog and his wife take part in a biker caravan and cross-country ride to Vietnam Memorial in Washington. The film follows him as he caravanes on his Harley from his rural Missouri home to Washington with his fellow vets to pay tribute to his fallen brothers at the Vietnam Memorial.

Debra Granik has won a host of awards for her previous fiction films, including those at the Sundance Film Festival. Her latest film Winter’s Bone had multiple Oscar nominations and scored a big success with both the critics and audience. With this film she is turning towards documentary form.

Watch trailer HERE. For more information about the film visit the official Website and Facebook page.