Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog

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Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog

2021

1h 33m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

94%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

The timeless, unbreakable bond between a boy and his faithful dog is put to the ultimate test in 1930s Germany, in the drama SHEPHERD: THE STORY OF A JEWISH DOG. When the Nuremberg Laws are passed forbidding Jews to own pets, Kaleb, a German Shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family and his beloved 10 year old master, Joshua. Kaleb becomes a street dog, is captured and eventually adopted by an SS dog trainer at a Nazi work camp where Kaleb has now been trained to help round up and terrorize Jewish prisoners. One day when a new trainload of prisoners arrives at the camp, Joshua steps out of that train and a miraculous reunion takes place as Kaleb rediscovers his unwavering loyalty to his young master Joshua. Together the pair attempt to escape the camp and begin the perilous journey to freedom. Based on the bestselling Israeli novel "The Jewish Dog" by Asher Kravitz.

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

05/28/2021

Younger viewers will receive a worthy, accessible lesson in the era's dreadful legacy, though older audiences may sometimes find its approach - and a few of the performances - a tad on-the-nose.

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Courtney Howard

Variety

05/28/2021

This tear-jerker finds a fresh angle on familiar tragedy and turbulence, following a German Shepherd through World War 2.

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Carlos Aguilar

RogerEbert.com

05/28/2021

1/4

The stale form isn't the most disappointing variable of this barely competent work, but the performances that border on cartoonish.

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Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

07/29/2021

60/100

Roth navigates this emotional (and inevitably literal) minefield with blunt skill.

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

06/17/2021

4/5

Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog sheds some light on how the Nuremberg Laws impacted a large part of the world and not just human lives.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

06/02/2021

Touch[es] the soul and warms even the coldest heart.

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Henry

06/13/2021

This movie was unique. Different than anything I've seen. Especially about this subject matter. It has many levels--aspects that young people will like and complex ideas for adults. And these have to be the best dog actors I've ever seen! This is well worth your time.

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ava r

06/12/2021

It was so interesting and compelling.

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Dena

05/31/2021

This is a very deeply touching story of the relationship between a Jewish boy and his dog. It is set against the backdrop of the ever growing oppression of Jews in 1940s Germany. Very well told and appropriate for older children.

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Nandy

05/29/2021

A wonderful, moving film that captures the holocaust in a unique personal way.

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maria d

@RT84124717 03/28/2024

A well done movie, I highly recommend it specially the dog 💯

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01/26/2022

A beautifully shot film that enables us to try to make sense and humanize a time of terror through a boy's relationship with his dog. I was impressed by director Lynn Roth's ability to build on this emotional connection while delivering a strong powerful message.

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Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The timeless, unbreakable bond between a boy and his faithful dog is put to the ultimate test in 1930s Germany, in the drama SHEPHERD: THE STORY OF A JEWISH DOG. When the Nuremberg Laws are passed forbidding Jews to own pets, Kaleb, a German Shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family and his beloved 10 year old master, Joshua. Kaleb becomes a street dog, is captured and eventually adopted by an SS dog trainer at a Nazi work camp where Kaleb has now been trained to help round up and terrorize Jewish prisoners. One day when a new trainload of prisoners arrives at the camp, Joshua steps out of that train and a miraculous reunion takes place as Kaleb rediscovers his unwavering loyalty to his young master Joshua. Together the pair attempt to escape the camp and begin the perilous journey to freedom. Based on the bestselling Israeli novel "The Jewish Dog" by Asher Kravitz.

Director: Lynn Roth
Producer: Lynn Roth, Craig Berenson, J. Todd Harris, Howard Rosenman
Screenwriter: Lynn Roth
Distributor: Glass Half Full Media
Production Co: FocusFox Studio, JDOG Films
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 28, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2023
Runtime: 1h 33m