Join us for the regional premiere!

TOUGH LOVE: A MEDITATION ON DOMINANCE AND DOGS

Special Guests: Director Chad Montrie & Editor Nathan Hendrie
Tuesday, June 26 @ 7PM
Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center
246 Market Street, Lowell 
Free admission! 

Click here for the press release // Click here for the the event flyer

 It’s a commonly accepted idea that dogs are “man’s best friend.” We give them a special place in our lives and they are, in turn, loyal companions. At the same time, many modern dog owners also believe that they are meant to establish themselves as the “alpha dog” in relation to their pets. This is a status supposedly achieved through attitudes and acts of domination, varying by emphasis on physical restraint and disciplinary “correction.” Yet the notion that cherished “best friends” are meant to strictly obey our will is something of a paradox.

How can we reconcile feelings of respect — and even love — with expectations of submission and compliance? Is there a valid and compelling justification for establishing dominance over our dogs? Does our claim to that power follow from fixed biological facts? Is it warranted by the nature of dogs and what we are to them through a shared evolutionary history?

Is dominance a “tough love,” something dogs actually want and need?

The answers to these questions are as complex as the queries themselves and sit at the heart of this profound documentary by our friend, filmmaker, and fellow cinephile Chad Montrie, a Lowell resident and professor of history at UMass Lowell. We’re excited to report that his newest film, Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs, will have its regional premiere right here in the Mill City on Tuesday, June 26 at 7PM at the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, one of our favorite local venues.

Filmmaker & professor, Chad Montrie.

Come meet director Chad Montrie and Tough Love editor Nathan Hendrie who will share their passion for documentary film and insight on their creative processes. We encourage you to take a closer look at this compelling project via the official website, Anchorholdfilms.com, and please SAVE THE DATE for this debut screening — it will surely resonate with anyone who’s ever had a warm-hearted pup to play with, bond with, care for, and love.

We look forward to seeing you there!