The Dogwalker

When he was six, Michael Borowski escaped the bullies chasing him by running head first into oncoming traffic. The accident caused a severe brain injury that affected him for the rest of his life. Now an adult, Borowski is many things, including an amateur playwright, a street philosopher and a beloved neighbourhood dogwalker. In her signature observational style, Dransfeld gives us an insightful and absorbing story of a remarkable person on the social margins. Borowski uses the camera's presence to muse about life and all its joys and disappointments. A thoughtful, sensitive and fragile character, he describes himself as a master of Zen and the art of dog walking. The film not only pays tribute to its main character, but also shows great appreciation for Borowski's four-legged companions. The dogs and cats in Borowski's life provide him with solace, consistency and companionship, something the humans in his life have sadly not managed to give. (Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival)