The Dog
I am trying to figure out the purpose and/or symbolism of the dog (Doberman) which finishes the story. Is it significant that the dog is a German breed or is it somehow tied to his father being a soldier? et cetera
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The way I saw it: Bouli-Yvan is still guilty for the death of his brother and for the fact that he wasn't there. He knows Elie/Didier is a drug-addict like his brother, and tries to help him to balance not being able to help his brother. Ultimately he fails, just like with his bro. So he understands therés no point in feeling guilty, nothing he could do. Just bury the body, in this case now the dog.
Yeah agreed. I dont' think the breed mattered much, just symbolized his hope for redeeming a drug addict inthe place of his brother.
shareThe collector saw Yvan digging a grave with his hands and told him that he would have to walk over graves to bury a body or he would die. In other words he had to forgive himself, figuratively stepping over the graves of his dead mother and brother and leaving Elie to his addiction, or he would be dragged down with them. He had to bury those feelings once and for all, symbolized by his burying the dog, in order to go on living. The collector couldn't see Elie's future but asked him to sing the national anthem instead, since it was Elie's past that was controlling his life and dragging him down - the rejection by his father, a military man, who forced him to sing the national anthem every day. Sad and beautiful film.
shareexcellent explanation!
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