Coming of age in the 1960s, John Wojtowiczs libido was excessive even by the libertine standards of the era. In 1972, he attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank to finance his lovers sex-reassignment surgery. The act resulted in a hostage situation that was broadcast on TV. Three years later Al Pacino portrayed his crime in Dog Day Afternoon. The film had a profound influence on Wojtowicz. When he emerged from prison, he was known as The Dog.
Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren began filming The Dog in 2002. Their dedication pays off in this unforgettable portrait capturing all of the subjects complexity. Drawing upon extraordinary archival footage, the film shuffles between the 1970s and the 2000s.