From Omeleto.
A dog goes on the road.
WILD AND FREE is used with permission from Sy Huq. Learn more at https://instagram.com/sy.huq.
Ghost is a husky riding out the global pandemic shutdown, stuck inside and in life like everyone else. But when she loses both her job and her boyfriend in one day, she decides to hightail it out of the home and onto the open road.
On the road, Ghost explores the American Southwest, hitting deserts, beaches, campsites and everything in between. Though she’s alone, she learns to find solace and insight in nature, exploration and self-reliance, redefining herself as intrepid and resilient.
Directed by Sy Huq, the charming, uplifting short dramedy is about one dog’s quest for self-invention, exploration and expansion during a trying set of circumstances. Set in an anthropomorphic world where dogs work, drive cars and call their moms, Ghost finds herself adrift when she loses her job and her relationship in one day. Now she must find another way to re-anchor herself, even as a time of isolation descends upon the world.
Voiced by beloved MODERN FAMILY actor Ariel Winter in a searching yet cheerful voice performance, Ghost is filled with lassitude and doubt when she gets a double whammy of bad news. There are some expressive (but still adorable) shots of Ghost moping, but she doesn’t stay down for long. Instead, when she gets a chance, she takes to the open road.
The film takes advantage of the many breathtaking sights and vistas of the Southwest, capturing Ghost’s adventures with warm, golden-hued light and clear, vibrant colors in the cinematography and scoring it all with uplifting acoustic pop on the soundtrack. Ghost makes for a compelling subject herself, whether evoking sadness at the transition of leaving what she’s known or the excitement of being on the open road.
The film’s conceit of an animal as a main character could skew overly cute, but it’s avoided here by thoughtful and relatable writing, brought to life by Winter’s positive spirit and winsome voice talent. Ghost may be a dog, but her story will be recognizable to anyone who ever needed a shake-up after some life struggles — and found it in the act of solo travel, exploration and discovery. That arc, rendered with uplifting, spirited storytelling, makes WILD AND FREE is a gentle, warmherted story, filled with whimsy and positivity. Originally made to honor National Dog Day, it reminds everyone to adopt their furry friends from shelters. But beyond that, it also resonates with anyone who ever went to a new place and found a new perspective on themselves — and a new lease on life as well.
