Jack London

(In French, On Cable TV, May 2019) A boy and his dog … in gold-rush Alaska. Adapted from the Jack London story but with the brutal violence considerably toned down in order to fit within the confines of a Disney movie, White Fang is a frontier adventure in the classical mould, bringing us back to late-nineteenth-century Alaska alongside so many gold rush hopefuls. Then there is the titular half-dog, half-wolf, the star of the show despite the human characters. A young Ethan Hawke shows his charm as a youngster off to make a fortune, listening to more experienced prospectors and befriending the lead canine character along the way. The images aren’t bad—the recreation of a frontier town is captivating, not to mention the Alaskan scenery—but the focus here is on the animals, and the film’s almost-mystical connection between human and canine. Beyond the dog performances, Bart the Bear turn in a good scene as an enraged animal pursuing our human protagonist. White Fang remains a family film, but it’s not entirely dull for older viewers. Of course, it’ll do better with dog people.