The power of the dog leads with 12 nods at Oscar nominations 2022

The academy awards are knocking on our doors. And The power of the dog leads with 12 nods at Oscar nominations 2022, including four acting honors. However, this is no surprise, considering it has already received seven nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and ten nominations at Critic’ Choice Awards.

“Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.”

The Bible, Psalm 22

A few facts about the movie

The power of the dog is a 2021 drama thriller film written and directed by Jane Campion. The story is based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name.
The Netflix film follows the tyrannical ranch owner Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his sweet but quietly ambitious brother George (Jesse Plemons). Furthermore, the balance of power at the ranch shifts after George marries widowed restaurant manager Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst). Moving to the ranch with George, Rose finds herself tormented by the presence of Phil. However, events on the ranch take an even more unexpected turn when Rose’s son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) comes to stay at the farm too.

Who was the dog in The Power of the dog?

In the biblical phrase, “The power of the dog,” the word “dog” refers to a person who attacks the vulnerable. For example, the great and powerful Roman empire conspired against Jesus Christ and crucified him. So, in The power of the dog, Peter and Phil could “the dog.”

How so?

Firstly, in the beginning, Phil bullied a weak Peter, who was grieving for his late father. What’s more, he attacked Peter with his toxic words and made poisonous remarks. However, Peter infects Phil’s vulnerable wound at the film’s end. Phil made some grave errors in life, but he didn’t deserve a death sentence for them.

If Peter had let Phil live, maybe some love and belongingness would have changed Phil’s behavior. Additionally, he was specially dressed that day and wanted to give him the rope to show his love for him.

Art is about flawed characters. In the realm of The power of the dog, both Peter and Phil had their choices. While Phil chose to be mean, Peter decided to be ugly. Regardless of what words we use to define them, they weren’t innocent in their actions. More importantly, through the narrative, Thomas Savage beautifully portrayed the complexities of human beings.

However, dogs also have a positive significance. The Bible says: “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. So that you may be healed.” The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” And this could be represented as a dog licking our wounds to cure them. That’s why the dogs are a proper symbol of faith, obedience, and loyalty.

Peter protected his mother (as the dog would). To keep her safe. He namely knew that Phill might have gotten good to him, but not to his mother. So, if you take it like this, he could guard his mother, as a dog would do with his owner. On the other hand, he could also save Phill from suffering and his hated life by poisoning him. After all, being closeted gay in a conservative society is the ultimate punishment.

The power of the dog at Oscar nominations 2022 – final thoughts

You know when something great comes when even the title makes you think so hard that you have to spend ten hours just thinking about the real meaning behind the words and the picture.

In the end, we want to read about: