Messi the dog is known for gracing the silver screen in Anatomy of a Fall and the four-legged celebrity recently left a lasting impression at the Oscars luncheon.
Messi, the dog from Oscar-nominated film ‘Anatomy of a Fall,’ meets celebrities in Los Angeles
A Border Collie named Messi is getting recognition for portraying Snoop in an Oscar-nominated film, Anatomy of a Fall. He journeyed from France to attend the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles, as People reports.
Messi ended up captivating fellow celebrities like Ryan Gosling, who eagerly greeted the adorable movie star. In addition, NEON, the film’s US distributor, shared a moment of Bradley Cooper meeting Messi.
In Justine Triet’s French courtroom drama, Messi takes center stage for his talents. As Sandra Voyter faces trial for her husband’s death, their blind son Daniel and his guide dog navigate the media frenzy while being the only witnesses to the death.
During the Oscars luncheon, actress Sandra Hüller, who plays Sandra Voyter in the film, said, “The only innocent creature in the film is the dog.”
Although Messi may not receive an Oscar, he secured an honor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. He won the Palm Dog Award, which celebrates outstanding canine performances in the festival’s featured films.
Messi was a vital part of the film
Hüller remarked in an interview that Snoop was “as much a character as any other.” She added, “We had good luck this time to work with someone in the business who trains animals for the industry. The lady [Laura Martin Contini] who owns Snoop was a really key person for us to allow him to be a character.”
Furthermore, Contini shared that Messi was present on set for 22 shoot days, where he quickly became the crew’s favorite. “We really took the team on each of his scenes,” Contini noted.
She further elaborated on the bond between Messi and Milo Machado Graner, who plays Daniel. In her words, “[Machado Graner] was specifically very invested in becoming close to the dog and taking care and playing with him, which is what Messi needs as a dog.”
