Luc Besson, director of Dogman, and its producer Virginie Besson-Silla interact with fans during the film’s roadshow in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Dec 12 2023. [Photo/Tide News]

French director Luc Besson visited the Zheying Shidai Cinema at the Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Square to promote his new film Dogman on Dec 12 and was warmly welcomed by fans.

While talking with fans, Luc Besson said that he will always be like a little boy in his pursuit of trying to make the best films, and he looks forward to Chinese filmmakers creating excellent local films based on the rich history and culture of China.

The film Dogman is written and directed by Luc Besson and was selected for the main competition unit of the 80th Venice Film Festival.

The thriller film is about Douglas, played by Caleb Landry Jones, a tormented young man who was abused by his father as a child and who found salvation through his love for his dogs.

The film had its Chinese premiere at the Seventh Pingyao International Film Festival in October in Shanxi province and was highly acclaimed with tickets in high demand.

Luc Besson said that the question he wanted to explore in Dogman is the impact of pain on a person’s psychology and how one can survive from the trauma they have experienced.

Dogman is officially made available for Chinese cinemas starting from Dec 15.