It’s 1980 in Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, and a war rages, while a high-stakes election could change this country forever. For 7-year-old Bobo (Lexi Venter), life continues on at her white English family’s rural farm, where she’s grown accustomed to their military escorts for trips to town, and that she’s not allowed in her parents’ bedroom at night, lest they mistake her for a “terrorist” and shoot her.

Through the eyes of a child, the most complex conflicts can be reduced to their core truths, lyrically expressed in “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight,” the directorial debut of acclaimed American-South African actress Embeth Davidtz, who also adapted the source material, a 2001 memoir by British-Zimbabwean writer Alexandra Fuller. Davidtz pulls triple duty, co-starring as Bobo’s mother Nicola.

Bobo invites us into her world via matter-of-fact narration, explaining things how she sees it: colonialism, war, race and African culture out of the mouths of babes. From this perspective, the heated politics and civil unrest of this time are tempered, though not softened, as she tries to make sense of the world around her, simplifying and flattening into binaries; this or that. “Are we African or English?” “Are we racist? I heard it on the radio.”

Our lens into this world, Bobo is the planet around which “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” revolves, embodied with wild abandon by Venter, whom Davidtz found when she put out a call for a free-spirited young girl, untrained in acting.

Davidtz has captured something like lightning in a bottle with Venter’s performance of pure, feral girlhood. As Bobo, she is a whirling dervish, entirely unencumbered by self-consciousness on screen thanks to Davidtz’s canny direction. She chokes on ice, and picks a wedgie. She asks inappropriate questions and is perfectly confident roaming the sprawling family farm, on horseback or motorbike, always barefoot. She may be often dirty and unkempt, but she composes herself with proper English manners when necessary. She is simultaneously innocent and knowing.

Davidtz carefully stitches together the performance through editing and voice-over, maintaining Venter’s authentic spirit. Bobo switches from know-it-all explanations to whispered incantations, superstitious wishes from a child. “If you love me you’ll turn around” she whispers at the sight of her father’s (Rob van Vuuren) retreating back, as he heads off for a military tour (though the details are never quite clear — Bobo is lightly neglected by her parents).

The one person who does pay attention to her is Sarah (Zikhona Bali), one of their African servants. She is tender, loving and playful, telling her stories of African mythology. Bobo’s own mother drinks late into the night, and frequently passes out in a silky negligee, clutching a machine gun.

Embeth Davidtz as Nicola Fuller in “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight.” Davidtz also wrote and directed the film. (Sony Pictures Classics/ZUMA Press/TNS)

“Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” captures the complex dynamics of being a white minority, a strange social, cultural and political place to inhabit. Bobo feels African because this is her home, what she knows best. She loves Sarah and embraces her culture. But she also apes her own mother’s haughty, entitled “lady of the manor” ways. Nicola’s behavior is only made more ridiculous by their hardscrabble and dangerous existence in the bush — they’re certainly not living a life of luxury.

Davidtz, who directs the film with striking beauty and a visceral immediacy, is also gripping in her performance as Nicola, battling alcoholism and grief. As filmmaker, Davidtz parcels out information about the family’s past trauma like a repressed memory stubbornly surfacing, bobbing to the top of their consciousness.

Their farm is Bobo’s whole world, but questions of property ownership and colonialism are at the heart of this conflict, both political and personal. Jacob (Fumani Shilubana), one of their employees, talks about how the farm used to be the land of his people, where his ancestors are buried, from whom he seeks solace and guidance. His connection to this place is ancient and spiritual, not legal or financial.

And yet we find that Nicola has a spiritual connection to this land as well. Her own dreams are intertwined with this place; she has buried her own loved ones in this soil. As the communist leader Robert Mugabe is elected, his declarations empower Africans to take up residence on the farmland, and her imperialist grasp slips, the beginning of the end for this family here.

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Davidtz saw cultural similarities in this story to her own childhood in South Africa, and with this astonishing cinematic jewel, presents a sensorially transporting snapshot of this place in time — the family, racial and political dynamics, and how a child might synthesize it all. Through Fuller’s story, Davidtz saw herself, and in adaptation, she distills the universal truths derived from its specificity.

‘Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight’

4 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: R (for violent/bloody images, language, sexual assault, and some underage smoking/drinking)

Running time: 1:38

How to watch: In theaters July 11

The law of the land?

I read with interest a recent letter under the heading “Someone had to.” I find it fascinating that Donald Trump was lauded as a great “law of the land” champion and enforcer in this letter. There are so many directions one could go here, but I will focus on one.

On January 6, 2021, a large and violent mob overpowered law enforcement and took over the United States Capitol Building. The mob’s unambiguous intention was to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election by blocking its congressional certification. If you don’t want to call this an “insurrection,” fine. But there can be no debate that this attempt violated a cornerstone of our political system: the peaceful transfer of power. There can be no debate that the actions of the mob were profoundly unlawful.

In the aftermath of January 6, more than 1,500 members of the mob were brought to justice and convicted of relevant crimes through legitimate legal procedures. Donald Trump, however, referred to these criminals as “political prisoners” and set them all free through an executive order as soon as he was inaugurated.

Trump has based all of his statements and actions pertaining to the January 6 violence on the false notion that the 2020 election was stolen from him. All charges of 2020 election irregularities potentially influencing the outcome have been thrown out in the courts. This includes a US Supreme Court made up of three liberals and six conservatives, three of those conservatives having been appointed by Trump himself.

The law of the land proclaimed Joe Biden the winner in 2020. Trump has demonstrated through his blanket January 6 pardons and countless other actions (as president and private citizen) that he is contemptuous of laws of the land when they conflict with his interests.

The “Someone had to” letter-writer said it best: “What happens when laws are only applied based on who is in power? You stop having a republic, and start playing with authoritarian fire.”

Peter Langworthy, St. Paul

 

Some are working hard. Others …

How is it that so many of our lawmakers have turned into wimps? Allowing one unethical and manipulative man to control their decision-making.

Many of us, before we vote, research the candidates. Learn where they stand on issues that impact us, not only personally, but our state and country as well. Candidates we believe are intelligent and independent thinkers. Granted, there are many who are still working hard to keep democracy a reality in the United States. And then there’s the wimps.

God Bless America!

Ursula Krawczyk, St. Paul 

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This new odor

While grocery shopping and visiting a museum recently I noticed a smell that was new to me. A friend informed me that it was marijuana. Years ago smoke from cigarettes and cigars filled the air. How are we going to regulate this new odor in our air?

Recently on TV I saw manufacturers making all kinds of marijuana delights (looks and tastes just like candy). How are we going to keep these out of the hands of young children and teenagers?

Minnesota made a mistake when they legalized marijuana. How can we stop this? Just say no, don’t use or buy, and help keep ourselves and our children safe.

Mary Anne Gruetzman, New Brighton 

 

Today is Saturday, July 12, the 193rd day of 2024. There are 172 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On July 12, as an angry reaction to the popularity of disco music, the Chicago White Sox held the “Disco Demolition Night” promotion, in which a crate of disco records was blown up on the field between games of a double-header; the ensuing riot and damage to the field caused the White Sox to forfeit the second game.

Also on this date:

In 1543, England’s King Henry VIII married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.

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In 1812, United States forces led by Gen. William Hull entered Canada during the War of 1812 against Britain. (However, Hull retreated shortly thereafter to Detroit.)

In 1862, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Army Medal of Honor.

In 1909, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allowing for a federal income tax, and submitted it to the states. (It was declared ratified in February 1913.)

In 1962, the Rolling Stones played their first show, at the Marquee Club in London.

In 1967, rioting erupted in Newark, New Jersey, over the police beating of a Black taxi driver; 26 people were killed in the five days of violence that followed.

In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale announced his choice of U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running mate; Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket.

In 1991, Japanese professor Hitoshi Igarashi, who had translated Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses,” was found stabbed to death, nine days after the novel’s Italian translator was attacked in Milan.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton, visiting Germany, went to the eastern sector of Berlin, the first U.S. president to do so since Harry Truman.

In 2003, the USS Ronald Reagan, the first carrier named for a living president, was commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia.

In 2012, a scathing report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh said the late Joe Paterno and other top Penn State officials had buried child sexual abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky more than a decade earlier to avoid bad publicity.

In 2022, Twitter sued Elon Musk to force him to complete the $44 billion acquisition of the social media company after Musk said he was backing off his agreement to buy the company. (He would eventually become Twitter’s owner three months later.)

Today’s Birthdays:

Writer Delia Ephron is 81.
Singer Walter Egan is 77.
Writer-producer Brian Grazer is 74.
Actor Cheryl Ladd is 74.
Gospel singer Ricky McKinnie (The Blind Boys of Alabama) is 73.
Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 69.
Actor Mel Harris is 69.
Boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez is 63.
Rock singer Robin Wilson (Gin Blossoms) is 60.
Actor Lisa Nicole Carson is 56.
Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 54.
Actor Anna Friel is 49.
R&B singer Tracie Spencer is 49.
Actor Topher Grace is 47.
Actor Michelle Rodriguez is 47.
Country singer-musician Kimberly Perry (The Band Perry) is 42.
Actor Natalie Martinez is 41.
Actor Ta’Rhonda Jones is 37.
Actor Rachel Brosnahan is 35.
Olympic gold medal gymnast Jordyn Wieber is 30.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai is 28.
NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 27.

What looked like a classic pitchers’ duel before the game took some twists and turns on Friday, with one ace looking rock-solid, but losing, and another ace struggling early, but winning.

When all of the weather-delayed action was over, the Minnesota Twins gave up the field in favor of a postgame Nelly concert and escaped to their clubhouse with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series.

Minnesota All-Star hurler Joe Ryan (9-4) had to work through the first two innings as his pitch count climbed. He fell behind in the fourth inning, but got bailed out by just enough offense. Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes (4-8) looked untouchable for three innings, only to surrender a Trevor Larnach homer in the fourth which won the game.

Jhoan Duran got the final three outs for his 15th save of the season as the Twins improved to 5-2 on their current homestand. With the potential tying run on second in the ninth, Duran struck out Isiah Kiner-Falefa to end the game.

Ryan escaped the first inning without allowing a run, but only after giving up a walk and a pair of hits, which loaded the bases. The second hit was a hard shot back to the mound by Oneil Cruz that deflected off Ryan’s glove and was credited as an infield single. Trainers gave Ryan a cursory glance, but he stayed in the game. His 34th pitch of the frame got Ke’Byran Hayes to pop out to second, ending the threat.

By contrast, Skenes threw a dozen first inning pitches and struck out the Twins’ side. He needed just 33 pitches to retire the first nine Twins he faced in order.

The Pirates put runners on base in each of the first four innings, and broke through with two outs in the fourth. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s double to right rolled all the way to the warning track, and the throw beat Spencer Horwitz at the plate, but Twins catcher Christian Vasquez could not field the ball cleanly.

The second time through the order went notably better for the Twins, who got an infield single from Byron Buxton, and they took the lead two batters later when Larnach dropped his 13th home run of the season into the front row of seats in right center.

Skenes was lifted after five innings, having allowed five hits and recording six strikeouts. Ryan, who was named to his first All-Star Game this week, also went five innings, allowing five hits while striking out five.

Minnesota’s Danny Coulombe, Brock Stewart, Louis Varland and Griffin Jax pitched in relief to get the game to Duran.

Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who singled in the sixth, had to leave the game an inning later with an apparent leg injury.

Tommy Pham, batting for the Pirates with one out, hit a line drive off the top of the wall in right field. DaShawn Keirsey, Jr., played the carom perfectly and fired to second as Pham tried to stretch for a double. Correa applied the tag for the out, but Pham’s helmet hit Correa’s right leg, which was planted on the bag. Correa rolled to the ground in immediate pain, and was helped off the field.

His injury was officially classified as a mild right ankle sprain by the Twins. The crowd of 40,100 was the Twins’ first sellout of the season.

Game 2 of the series is Saturday at 1:10 p.m., with Pittsburgh right-hander Mike Burrows pitching for the visitors. The Twins had not named a starter as of Friday night.

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