The history of cinema is adorned with an array of coming-of-age movies. French cinema is no exception, boasting a rich list of stories centered around youngsters' lives and adventures. Jean-Baptiste Durand's notable feature debut Junkyard Dog is a new addition to the tradition of French coming-of-age films. In a little town in France, we find an inseparable bubby duo tangled in an intoxicating relationship. They know every bit of each other, but their friendship looks far from healthy—one even calls the other "dog" rather than calling his name. The town looks like a still-life object, where nothing seems to be changing, and everything is way too peaceful as if people there had just too much time to spend. An outsider enters there, a place where the future seems too remote to find. Due to her, the buddies' little world collapses, bringing a new chapter of life. Disconnection leads to changes, spreading out new possibilities. The filmmaker follows the characters he created through a loving lens, creating a small world where its two young residents' lives are filled only with present moments and where their lives and bizarre friendship guard each other. (Sung MOON)