Stray Dogs (2014)
Tsai Ming-liang's devastating portrait of homelessness and longing on the margins of Taipei — a landmark of slow cinema.
Stray Dogs - Movie Information
- Original Title: 郊遊
- Release Year: 2014
- Directed by: Tsai Ming-liang
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 2h 18m
- Original Language: Chinese
- Spoken Languages: Mandarin
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 21, 2014 (Taiwan), March 12, 2014 (France)
- Alternative Titles: Les Chiens errants (FR), Benamiai sunys (LT), Psi lutalice (RS), Stray Dogs - Jiao you (IT), Jiao you (TW), 떠돌이 개 (KR)
- Production Companies: Homegreen Films, JBA Production
- Production Countries: Taiwan, France
Stray Dogs - Plot
An alcoholic man and his two young children barely survive in Taipei. They cross paths with a lonely grocery clerk who might help them make a better life.
Stray Dogs - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a sense of Tsai Ming-liang's haunting visual world:
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Stray Dogs - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Tsai Ming-liang
Main Cast
- Lee Kang-Sheng
- Lu Yi-ching
- Chen Shiang-Chyi
- Yang Kuei-mei
- Lee Yi-cheng
- Lee Yi-Chieh
- Wu Jin-Kai
Writers
- Chen Yu Tung
- Song Peng Fei
- Tsai Ming-liang
Producers
- Lee Kang-Sheng
Stray Dogs - FAQs
What is Stray Dogs about?
Stray Dogs follows a destitute father and his two young children scraping by on the fringes of Taipei — sleeping rough, scavenging for food, and clinging to each other. When a compassionate grocery clerk enters their lives, a fragile possibility of warmth and rescue quietly emerges in this deeply contemplative film.
Why does the father hold a cabbage in Stray Dogs?
The cabbage scene is one of cinema's most discussed images: the father stands motionless for an extended take, clutching a cabbage as a makeshift "girlfriend." It's simultaneously absurd and heartbreaking — a raw expression of loneliness, degradation, and the human need for connection reduced to its most desperate form.
What does the mural mean at the end of Stray Dogs?
The film's final extended shots of a large mural — depicting a serene natural landscape — function as a meditation on longing, stillness, and an unreachable world. Tsai Ming-liang invites viewers to sit with the image until it becomes overwhelming, blurring the line between cinema, painting, and pure emotional endurance.
Who are the main actors in Stray Dogs?
Lee Kang-Sheng leads the cast as the Father, with Lu Yi-ching, Chen Shiang-Chyi, and Yang Kuei-mei each portraying a Woman in the film. The children are played by Lee Yi-cheng and Lee Yi-Chieh, and Wu Jin-Kai also appears in a supporting role.
Where can you stream Stray Dogs?
You can watch Stray Dogs for free on Kanopy. It's also available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home — so there are plenty of ways to track it down depending on your preferred platform.
Is Stray Dogs worth watching for non-arthouse fans?
Stray Dogs is an uncompromising slow-cinema experience — long static takes, minimal dialogue, and a deliberately fragmented narrative. It won the Grand Jury Prize at Venice and earned widespread critical acclaim. Viewers open to meditative, challenging cinema will find it profoundly moving; those expecting conventional storytelling may find it demanding.
Who directed Stray Dogs and what is his style?
Tsai Ming-liang, one of Taiwan's most celebrated auteurs, directed Stray Dogs. He's known for extremely long takes, near-silent scenes, and an unflinching focus on urban alienation and the body. Stray Dogs was announced as his final feature film, making it a culminating statement of his entire cinematic vision.
Did Stray Dogs win any major awards?
Stray Dogs won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2013 Venice Film Festival — one of the most prestigious honors in world cinema. The film also received widespread recognition from international critics' circles and appeared on numerous year-end best-of lists, cementing Tsai Ming-liang's reputation as a master of slow cinema.
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