Dragon Chow

Dragon Chow (German: Drachenfutter) is a 1987 drama film co-written and directed by Jan Schütte, in his feature directorial debut. A co-production between West Germany and Switzerland, it premiered at the 44th Venice International Film Festival.

Dragon Chow
Directed by	Jan Schütte
Screenplay by	Jan Schütte Thomas Strittmatter
Starring	Bhasker Ric Young
Cinematography	Lutz Konermann
Edited by	Renate Merck Andreas Schreitmüller
Music by	Claus Bantzer
Release date	1987 (1987)
Language	German

Plot

Cast

• Bhasker as Shezad
• Ric Young as Xiao
• Buddy Uzzaman as Rashid
• Wolf-Dietrich Sprenger as Herder
• Ulrich Wildgruber as Udo
• Frank Oladeinde as Dale

Production

The film was shot in black and white in Hamburg.^[1] It was produced by Novoskop Film, Probst Film and Bern Production.^[1]

Release

The film had its premiere at the 44th edition of the Venice Film Festival, in the Venice International Film Critics' Week, in which it won the Premio Cinecritica.^[2]

Reception

A contemporary Variety review described the film as 'a modest enterprise of surprising impact', and noted: ' Schutte’s film doesn't preach and doesn’t point accusing fingers inany specific direction, except to the vultures who make money out of the misfortune of others. In spite of the grim subject and unflattering scenery in which evolves, both direction and performances [...] preserve a human, at times humorous dimension that works to the picture’s advantage'.^[1] La Stampa's film critic Lietta Tornabuoni also praised the film, referring to it as 'never overly-sentimental, poignant and moving, showing stylistic maturity'.^[3] German film critic Harry Rowohlt wrote: 'The film ends on a sad note, of course, but it leaves you feeling happy: finally, a successful German film, [which is] neither too long nor too loud, subtle, yet well-made'.^[4]