BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE

W.C. Fields, well-known hater of children and dogs, would appreciate the snide edge to this comedy about an apartment complex going to the dogs – or vice-versa, with the guileless and loyal animals definitely getting the worst end out of their dealings with humankind. Yoon-Joo, an incompetent part-time teacher with plenty of time on his hands, bridles at the incessant clamor of barking in the building. When he sees a dog in the hall, he locks the poor mutt in the basement without a second thought. Meanwhile Hyun-Nam, the bored secretary in the superintendant's office, tries to add some excitement to her drab routine by investigating reports of neighborhood kids' pooches gone missing. Meanwhile the building's janitor is savoring his new recipe for beef stew . . . You cannot help but notice that dogs, especially the abuse of Man's Best Friend, figures heavily into the plots of several Festival entries, particularly “Dog Food,” Amores Perros” and “Little Crumb.” We assure you that this was not intentional. But as you behold the chain (leash?) of mixups in BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE, the coincidence is enough to give anyone paws. (In Korean with English subtitles)