Heart of a Dog

Right now you can watch Heart of a Dog in Australia on DocPlay, and in the US on Criterion Channel — and it earns the access it was given. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 54 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Archie's involvement signals a level of cooperation that is hard to secure. Start it on DocPlay whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Heart of a Dog keeps coming up in conversation. The access Heart of a Dog gets is remarkable — and the storytelling does full justice to it. Lyrical and powerfully personal essay film that reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother, her beloved dog, and such diverse subjects as family memories, surveillance, and Buddhist teachings. Archie and Gatto lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2015. What elevates Heart of a Dog above most documentary work is a refusal to settle for the easy version of the story. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Anyone after documentary work that genuinely informs rather than confirms will value Heart of a Dog. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. The access the production gets is remarkable, and the storytelling does full justice to it. Worth watching in order, from the beginning.