Review: “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight”

By Morgan Roberts

Director: Embeth Davidtz
Writer: Embeth Davidtz
Stars: Lexi Venter, Embeth Davidtz, Zikhona Bali, Fumani Shilubana, Rob Van Vuuren, Anina Reed
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2025

How do we reckon with our past? Following fights for freedom from white colonization, oppression, and apartheid, nations in Africa began declaring independence. Many of the white inhabitants of these nations were forced to confront their own culpability in their abuses of the people of Africa. In Embeth Davidtz’s directorial debut, “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight,” the real life story of one family’s reckoning is told through the eyes of a young child.

The film is based off of the memoir of the same name by Alexandra Fuller. Admittedly, I have not read the book and thus, would be unable to fully compare this film to the source material. In this adaptation, Bobo (Lexi Venter) witnesses her family’s increased anxieties about their future as the people of Rhodesia (the nation we now call Zimbabwe) begin to decide their path forward following their long-fought struggle for independence. At 8 years old, Bobo is an inquisitive young person, peppering her family’s housekeeper (and servant), Sarah (Zikhona Bali) with questions. Sarah explains the customs and cultures prior to white colonization. During this fraught time, Bobo begins to wonder about her own place in the world and the choices being made around her.

Bobo (Lexi Venter) in “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” | Sony Pictures Classics

Outside of Sarah, Bobo has largely dysfunctional adults to look up to. Her father, Tim (Rob Van Vuuren) is largely absent. And when he is present, he can be quite distant. Her mother, Nicola (Davidtz), is a racist alcoholic who feels entitled to the land stolen just a few generations before her. Nicola is cold, abrasive, and, at times, downright abusive. For those familiar with Davidtz in “Matilda,” it’s the polar opposite of Ms. Honey. Nicola has also experienced immense tragedy, losing several children. What the film does so well is contextualize these people, most notably Nicola, without condoning their actions or attitudes. It gives layers and nuance to exceedingly complicated people without excusing their behaviors.

With a tight runtime that doesn’t quite reach 100 minutes, there are some elements that feel a little underdeveloped, particularly when analyzing the history of the region. Much of the film comes from the perspective of an 8 year-old which means out understanding of events are explored at that level. Nevertheless, there are hints here and there which aim to paint a fuller picture, but don’t quite encapsulate that history. That said, if you are a researcher, the film does inspire a great Wikipedia deep dive into the history of the region.

Behind the camera, Davidtz has a clear and strong vision. It is evident that she understands Fuller’s story and aims to honor her truth, especially for who she was at that point in time. Davidtz is not shy in her depictions of racism, prejudice, and moments of pure evil, at the hands of the white adults we see in the film. It is largely critical of those who fought to continue to benefit from the disenfranchisement of others, on land stolen by their ancestors.

“Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” is a coming of age film during a tumultuous period of Southern African history. While the film has some underdeveloped ideas, as a filmmaker Davidtz clearly understood Fuller’s truth and the need to critique white colonialism from the not-so-long-ago past.

Grade: B
Pair This Film With: “Dahomey” (2024) dir. Mati Diop; “Mississippi Masala” (1991) dir. Mira Nair; “White Material” (2009) dir. Claire Denis