What you need to know:
Messi, the little dog who appears in “Anatomy of a Fall,” won the hearts of audiences with his performance. One that even led him to be one of the guests at the 2024 Oscars.
Hachiko, Rex, Lassie, Beethoven… In the world of cinema there are several dogs that have become famous – and in doing so, they won our hearts – by appearing in incredible films. And the list of soft fillets has been supplemented with good ones Messi with “Anatomy of a Fall”.
No, we’re not talking about the Argentine star, but about him Border collie with blue eyes which subsequently won the praise of critics his involvement in the film Frenchwoman nominated in several strong categories at the 2024 Oscars.
Messi, the little dog who won awards for his performance in “Anatomy of a Fall.”
Under the direction of director Justine Triet, “Anatomy of a Fall” competes in the categories Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film. In Messi’s case, the dog didn’t receive any nominations, but his work in the film was certainly outstanding.
Let’s assume – and not to tell you if you haven’t seen it yet -: Messi stands out in “Anatomy of a Fall” for his role as Snoop. the guide dog of the couple’s son, the story is about. But also for helping the protagonist (in a very random and somewhat tragic way) when she is accused of a crime she didn’t commit.
Due to the complexity of the scenes Many found it incredible that a dog like Messi could convey so many emotions to the spectators.who were touched when they saw him comforting the characters or illustrating a sad scene in which he himself played the leading role.
Messi’s performance was so good that last year During the Cannes Film Festival in his native France, the Border Collie took home the “Palm Dog.”‘, a recognition given to the best dogs on the big screen since 2001. Whether real or animated.
Messi’s success was thanks to his owner and coach Laura Martin
But the triumph of the little dog Messi is not an isolated case. Much of what he learned is thanks to him Laura Martin Contini, Messi’s owner and trainer for eight years She stumbled upon the gentle friend, not knowing that he would one day become a Hollywood star.
In an interview with GQ magazine in the UK, Laura commented that she gave birth to Messi when he was just two months old: “He was my first dog. We both learned together. Messi is a good dog, he learns easily. “This dog is very intelligent.”he assured.
Who adopted him when he was two months old and couldn’t imagine his fate
Laura wanted to have a pet and after being contacted by a lady in France, she chose her new friend from a litter of puppies. There he chose Messi, who, in his opinion, was the “least attractive” dog of all.
Messi’s name comes from the French custom of adding an initial letter to the animal’s name depending on the year. In the case of the puppy Messi was born in the year of the letter M and Laura’s children suggested the name of the Argentine footballer. At least this was confirmed in a conversation with the newspaper Clarín.
Messi is a real professional and Justine Triet’s film proves it
Laura Martin, 37, is dedicated to training puppies. She trained Messi herself and thanks to this the little dog was able to take part “Anatomy of a Fall,” Film for which the woman trained on set with her gentle friend for months who also has the ability to improvise.
“Sandra (Hüller) radiates so much emotion that it’s a real scene from life for Messi and that’s why he lets himself go. I always give the dog room for improvisation so he can suggest things and make them natural.”the trainer indicated in the said lecture.
Messi was also criticized for his performance
Although Messi is now popular and famous thanks to his talent (so much so that he was even invited to this year’s Oscar nominees luncheon), Laura claims that the little dog was initially not the favorite at the castings because of his appearance.
“Messi was a misunderstood artist. He had a lot of trouble getting roles. “He always made it to the end of the audition but was rarely accepted, often because of his looks and eyes.”Messi’s trainer and owner told British GQ.
But the little dog has already achieved fame thanks to his acting skills
“He directed French commercials such as Pedigree, Truffaut, as well as a short film and music videos. Her biggest role, which highlighted all of her performances, was “Anatomy of a Fall.” “He only had one chance and he won everything.”, Laura mentioned that she has been on tour with Messi in Los Angeles for a few days.
With his performance The little dog Messi has not only managed to live with artists like Ryan Gosling. He also earned the recognition of the same director of “Anatomy of a Fall” who assured that the character Snoop was indispensable in the film and that the dog was at that level.
So much so that the dog will be invited to the 2024 Oscars for “Anatomy of a Fall.”
At 8 years old, Messi has already achieved what any actor would have dreamed of: Become a Hollywood star, receive applause and praise and even be able to attend the most important cinema night (next March 10) to rub shoulders with the best in the industry.
Messi’s future is somewhat uncertain and it is currently unknown if the little dog has any projects on the horizon. However, After watching Anatomy of a Fall, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him in other productions soon. Talent is in all four legs!
