“I want to thank the jury from the bottom of my black heart,” the director said when collecting the prize on behalf of the pooch named Brandy.
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has claimed its first award.
The darkly comic film — starring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie — had its world premiere in Cannes on Tuesday, where it was well-received by critics. But the movie’s first honor was not for the A-list lineup or legendary director, but instead for a four-legged member of the star-studded cast.
Brandy plays the pit bull pet of Pitt’s character, Cliff Booth — an animal with some considerable screen time who plays a crucial role in at least one scene. She won the Palm Dog award for the best performance by a canine in a film.
Although Brandy didn’t make it to the south of France, Tarantino himself caused a stir when he unexpectedly turned up to the awards ceremony on Friday to collect the dog collar prize.
“I want to thank the jury from the bottom of my black heart,” he said. “At least I don’t go home empty-handed.”
