23 Walks

Dave (Dave Johns) and Fern (Alison Steadman) are already in their later years when they meet for the first time on a walk in a London park - and start a fight: The retired nurse hasn't put his sheepdog Tillie on a lead, which neither the resolute Fern nor her Yorkshire terrier Henry are happy about. What unites Dave and Fern in their sixties is their great love for their four-legged friends. The senior citizens are regularly driven out into the fresh air by their dogs. And so it is inevitable that they will meet again on their daily walks. Step by step, a tender romance develops between the dogs and their owners. But both Dave and Fern have secrets that threaten their fragile late happiness... With a lot of charm, great heart and British understatement, “With Heart and Dog” presents itself as an emotionally calm film about a fresh love in the gray age of life. Alison Steadman and Dave Johns as Fern and Dave create a touching and believable connection between their characters with their authentic acting. The film takes a true-to-life, loving look at themes such as loneliness, loss and new beginnings, with the dogs as silent mediators symbolizing trust and closeness. "This humorous comedy with melancholy, philosophical undertones offers mature entertainment. But you don't have to strain your brain for it, you can simply let yourself be taken along on the walks at different times of the year. The parks and meadows in and around London seem lovely, the view from the hills or the edge of the forest creates a feeling of serene relaxation. You get the feeling that Dave and Fern and their dogs like to go out into the great outdoors to relax. Morrison's film retains a light casualness without ever becoming boring." (Bianka Pieringer, on: kino-zeit.de)