Céline Roustan
In the playful early stages of a potential relationship, there’s one thing Tammy has yet to tell Marcus, but at what point is she supposed to say it? Does she even have to? In Down Dog, director Shae Xu explores an emotionally complex situation with a rare authenticity, creating a slice-of-life short with a very raw and genuine narrative.
“Down Dog depicts a silent rejection and a graceful resistance”
The beauty in Down Dog is in its sensitivity and subtlety. With no melodramatic gimmicks, the film depicts a layered moment through a non-judgmental lens. “Down Dog depicts a silent rejection and a graceful resistance”, Xu reveals as we discuss her film and I can’t find a better description than this. Explaining that she loved Claire Brooks’ writing “for the truthfulness of both characters, as well as the chemistry and the opposing forces between them”, it’s easy to see why the director was attracted to the script.
With very little dialogue, Down Dog manages to build multidimensional characters that we discover organically through their interactions. Tammy is a trans woman, but it is her confidence that defines her character, not her past. While Marcus is also not depicted as the cliche cisgender guy. The narrative arc is rather simple – a tale of rejection – but it is in the yoga scene that the film really lands its emotional impact.
Brandon L. Wilson (centre) as Marcus in Shae Xu’s Down Dog.
Usually, I am not one for the use of the black and white aesthetic (it’s #7 in our 15 Things Wrong with your Short Film article), as I often find it contrived. In this case, however, I found that it contributes greatly to the visual flair of the film, fostering an atmosphere that enhances the narrative. Xu’s camera has a very realistic, unobtrusive feel, almost reminding me of a documentary approach as we’re welcomed into Tammy’s universe. The yoga scene is especially powerful. We watch it unfold as if we were present in the studio and experiencing first-hand how Tammy deals with Marcus’ reaction.
The strength of the film is in how captivating it is, maintaining a calm energy throughout, the subtlety working to make the narrative more powerful. The screenplay has the required depth, the direction creates an atmosphere that brings those subtle layers and emotions to the screen, but it is Ava Grey, who portrays Tammy, who is the essential element in Down Dog’s success.
Ava Grey as Tammy in Shae Xu’s Down Dog.
From the opening scene, the strength she elicits is magnetizing. Yoga is not an interest of mine, yet that scene felt so powerful by contrasting the peaceful exterior she exudes with the onslaught of emotions that must have been battling behind her eyes. The way her character balances the energy she is supposed to communicate to her students with her inner response to Marcus’ decision was nothing short of remarkable.
After hitting the 2020 virtual festival circuit with notable stops at Outfest and the Iris Prize Festival, Down Dog is having its online debut today in celebration of Women’s History Month. Xu just finished a new short film titled Duet, and is currently working on her first feature script Yellow Plum Rain.