Dog Fight: Exes' Custody Battle for Beloved Pet

In the dark comedy "Dog Fight," a woman's impulsive act to retrieve her dog, Ppoppo, after losing custody to her ex-boyfriend ignites a fierce battle. The project, by actor-director Ryu Hyunkyung, highlights legal and emotional complexities surrounding pet ownership.

Minjeong and Seungil, after an eight-year relationship, find their beloved dog Ppoppo awarded to Seungil by law. When denied visitation rights, Minjeong impulsively takes Ppoppo, leading to an obsessive fixation that turns desperate when the dog vanishes. The ensuing conflict reveals how possessiveness can be mistaken for love.

Ryu Hyunkyung, who also stars in the film, aims to explore the fine line between love and ownership. She observes that people become intensely earnest, often comically or frighteningly so, when vying for a shared creature. The narrative questions the nature of love, contrasting legal ownership with the emotional bond of a caregiver.

"Dog Fight" is part of a loose trilogy by Ryu, exploring relationships at different stages. While "Don't Go Back" captured the prelude to love and "Old Boy" (working title) depicts long-term relationships, "Dog Fight" examines the aftermath of a breakup. The film is slated for pre-production from June to August 2027, with filming in September-October 2027 and post-production concluding by February 2028, targeting a festival launch in Q2 2028.

Producer Kim Sehun sees the story's relevance in contemporary couples who raise pets as they might children. The film's team is seeking international co-producers and financiers at the Asian Project Market and aims to gauge audience connection beyond Korea. Ryu has several other story ideas in development, including projects about overlooked actors and an older couple's love story.