Stray Dog

Ron “Stray Dog” Hall is an imposing figure: with a massive build, a white beard, tattoos and a leather jacket. But the passionate biker is less tough than he looks: still haunted by the traumatic war experiences of his youth, he finds it impossible to forgive himself for his actions. With other Vietnam War veterans, he rides his Harley to solemn remembrance ceremonies or wreath-laying ceremonies at military cemeteries. His home is a trailer park in Missouri, where he lives with his wife Alicia, a recent immigrant from Mexico—for whom he is learning Spanish online—and four small dogs. The plan is for a family to form when her two 19-year-old sons in Mexico City are able to enter the US, despite the culture shock. Granik’s documentary debut is both a portrait and a social study. Without commentary, the director once again provides an insight into the living conditions of marginalized people, showing their daily struggles and their caring relationships.