I had no idea what I had in store for me when I sat down watching Dog Day Afternoon. Based on a one-liner summary I thought it would be another bank robbery movie. It is, but is much more. Here are some examples
You can take it as a feminist movie. The interactions of the tellers at the bank (all women) with their (male) boss, with each other, with the robbers, with the police and even with the press all show the very distinct social roles they were expected to play in the 1970s. It was fascinating to watch how even the most independent of them was subservient to the boss, how they talked to their husbands on the phone, how they played up to stereotypes.
You can also take the movie as a transsexual-rights movie. (Next sentence is a SPOILER.) The (anti-)hero, played by Al Pacino superbly decided to rob a bank so he could pay for Leon’s, his male wife’s, sex operation. Even if Leon isn’t portrayed fully as a sympathetic character, but at least he was shown as a human figure. Very much full of conflicting emotions, needs and thoughts. And he does get his wish and the operation.
This can also be viewed as an anti-establishment movie. The crowd outside the bank is routing for the robbers and once Sonny, the main robber, realizes it he plays up to it. His antics outside the bank, when meeting with the officers and agents serve to fuel the crowd’s feelings for him. Plus he is genuinely angry because his quick hoist went awry. With the exception of the local sergeant all the authority figures seem slimy. But he is removed from being in charge to be a just in the audience. For example when Leon finally talks to Sonny in the bank via the phone the FBI agent has a full headset with a microphone, while the sergeant is given only headset. He couldn’t talk to Sonny even if he wanted to. The FBI agent could have, but despite Sonny’s repeated request they didn’t.
It is a love story too. The supposedly anti-hero must turn out to be a hero for many viewers, although we have to have conflicting feelings for him as after all he decided to commit a criminal act. We slowly learn to understand his reasons: love.
What made the movie great besides the slowly unfolding story was the directing and the acting. Al Pacino acted his heart and guts out. He was Sonny.
Sometimes the next few days I will watch the documentary about the story behind the movie. It is called Based on a True Story and came out in 2006. It never came out on DVD, but is available for viewing online. Don’t worry the the webpage is in Dutch, the movie is in English with Dutch subtitles.
