Marona’s Fantastic Tale 2019

A dog narrator, just struck by a car, frames the film as her life flashing before her eyes, guiding us through a life told in memories and moments. Born to a street dog and a purebred who claims to hate non-purebreds, she is the youngest of nine and receives the first name Nine. She quickly becomes a stray, wandering until she is taken in by an acrobat named Bruno Salomone, who brings a small, humble happiness to the road and to the dog’s days.

Under this new life, Nine grows deeply loyal and learns to love a human world she never expected. She experiences love for a human for the first time, and the bond she feels is intense and touching, even as she senses that she might be slowing down Manole from pursuing his dreams. When she recognizes this, she makes a brave choice and runs away, stepping back into the unpredictability of life on the streets.

Back on the streets, a construction worker named Istvan [Thierry Hancisse] appears, bringing food to the dog each day and offering a quiet sense of steadiness. The narrator acquires a third name—Sara—and begins to see a different kind of companionship. Istvan decides to bring Sara to his sick mother’s house, and the role of Istvan’s mother is voiced by [Annie Mercier]. Yet a turning point arrives after an accident that leaves Istvan’s mother hurt and unsettled; Istvan chooses to keep Sara with him, while his wife initially seems eager to have a pet but soon grows tired of the dog’s presence.

Solange, a girl who will come to play a central role in Sara’s life, finds the stray one day in a park and names her Marona. Solange is portrayed by [Maïra Schmitt], and the quiet bond between girl and dog deepens as Solange grows older. Solange lives with her single mother—[Nathalie Boutefeu]—who embodies Medeea, and with her grandfather, [Georges Claisse], who watches the living being that has become part of the family. The pair build a life together, learning to accept and love the dog that accompanies them through the years.

As the years pass, Solange becomes a teenager and takes Marona on walks, eventually tying her to a tree and sneaking off to a party. Marona quietly waits, escapes, and follows Solange, only to face a heartbreaking moment when she is struck by a car, a stark reminder of the fragility of the moments they shared. The film closes on a note of memory and resilience, a testament to the unbreakable, blind love that carried a dog through a life that spanned streets, stages, and small, intimate trains of kinship.