A squadron of dog catchers, sent into the Gobi desert to round up a bevy of hounds, adds stark absurdism to this commentary on Chinese society

This isn’t the first film to serve up redemption through a furry emissary – and it won’t be the last. Guan Hu’s Chinese drama-cum-western-cum-state-of-the-nation missive won Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year – but more importantly, its heavy canine quotient meant it also bagged the second prize in the festival’s Palm Dog award. Its heartwarming aspect comes framed with real grandeur, and a stark absurdism and tightly wound sentimentality reminiscent at times of Takeshi Kitano.

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the splendid desolation of the vision of China makes the film’s feelgood belly-rubs feel all the more vital.