Messi, the Dog Actor, Set to Compete at the 2024 Oscars: Heartwarming Story of a Border Collie’s Rise to Fame

Messi He was the “least pretty” of his litter. When she chose him, Laura did not know that eight years later that dog would “compete” at the 2024 Oscars. Much less that Argentina would play in a world final against France, her country of origin.

Laura Martin Contini I wanted a pet and I had heard that on the outskirts of Paris a lady had very good dogs. A common contact facilitated a meeting and it was from that intersection that Messi came into his life. He chose him because he was the smallest; the black sheep of the group.

In this way, “Messi is a dog”, the famous story by Hernán Casciari, became a reality. And before knowing why Messi is called like Lionel Messi, Let’s review some curious facts that Laura told Clarín in a warm interview from a distance.

Messi at the Oscars 2024

To understand Messi’s great work we have to talk a little about Anatomy of a fallthe film in which he acts.

The -almost- 8-year-old border collie is one of the big stars of a film that hit Argentine cinemas on Thursday and last year won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Festival (for his tremendous performance, Messi took the Palm Dogan alternative award given by the Cannes festival to the outstanding dogs in its selection).

Messi is about to turn 8 years old. Photo: courtesy Laura Martin

At the Oscars on March 10, Messi and his teammates will compete in 5 categoriesamong them that of Best film.

Starting February 11, he and Laura will spend a week in Los Angeles to take photos and participate in press conferences. “We are going to shine,” the 37-year-old trainer tells Clarín.

The border collie won the Palm Dog at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: courtesy Laura Martin

The acting dog that dazzled the world

In Anatomy of a Fall, a writer is put on trial after the mysterious death of her husband in the French Alps. The protagonist is accused of murder, but Justice has a hard time determining if she is a murderer or if he took her life. The couple had a son in common, Samuel (Milo Machado Graner), and the dog Snoop (Messi).

Milo Machado Graner and Laura Martin on the set of Anatomy of a Fall. Photo: courtesy Laura Martin

-How did the dog get along with the actors?

The entire team was great with the dog, both the technician and the actors. With Milo, the little actor, we worked a lot. We saw each other a lot before filming and during it we worked. And Milo took very, very good care of Messi. He was part of the team as a human being.

-How was the experience of working with Justine Triet, the only director nominated for the 2024 Oscar?

Justine Triet has many ideas. She’s a little… How should she put it? She is a little “crazy” in her ideas. And she is super nice, very cool. She can do very, very interesting things. She knows what she wants; She knows which direction she’s going. And she is really very human and very open.

Oscar-nominated actress Sandra Hüller in a scene with Messi.

-What is the most difficult scene that Messi had to do?

-There were two that were difficult. The sequence of the poisoning, when he was sick and took the medicine. That took a lot of filming time. And also the beginning of the film, where there is a very long shot, a sequence shot, where Messi goes through the police agitation… They were quite long sequences, an afternoon of filming, and therefore quite difficult. But we got through it well.

-What do you think his ability is related to? Is it something that is born with him or 100% training?

-I had Messi when he was a baby and I started working with him before making films with animals. I worked with people who had dogs. She was a trainer. It was with him that I learned everything. We learned everything together. He also has great skills and we work a lot together. He is almost 8 years old, so he has a lot of work left. He taught me and I taught him too.

His character in the film is called Snoop. And he is key.

There were 22 intense days of filming where Triet was very satisfied with Messi’s work. The dog was treated as another character, acknowledged the French director.

Name like 10

The explanation for why Messi is called Messi doesn’t have as much to do with football as one might imagine. Laura gave him that name when the Argentine ten had not yet won the World Cup or played for Paris Saint Germain. She went the other way..

-Why is your dog called Messi?

In France we have become accustomed to the fact that when we take a purebred dog, each year a letter is assigned to the animal’s name. And the year Messi was born is the year of the M. And my children love Messi, the footballer, and they asked me to call him Messi. So, attributing it a little to the footballer, he was called that.

Laura raised Messi since he was a puppy. Photo: courtesy Laura Martin

-Was there an impact among your French acquaintances because of the dog’s name, taking into account what happened in the World Cup between the Argentine and French National Teams?

-I saw some articles that talked about Messi the player and Messi my dog, that they both had good performances and that they looked alike, so I think it’s really great. He is reserved for intelligence. The performances, the intelligence… Both are very strong in both of them.

-Is there any Argentinian in your family?

-No, we are French, my mother is Italian but otherwise we are French.

Messi and Milo became good friends during filming. Photo: courtesy Laura Martin

-And what is Messi’s next job?

He has already done commercials in France. And after the movie he had another role in a French series where he plays dead. In the end, they cut his throat. The series is called Against you.

-Was it easier to do that scene or the one in Anatomy of a Fall?

-The Anatomy of a Fall was much more difficult. It was much more advanced, much more work. It was long, but beautiful. He knows how to do the death thing. It was easier.

To finish the talk, Laura was encouraged to confess that her pet is also a great soccer player and that He would love for both Messis to have a face-to-face meeting at some point. “We are waiting for the meeting in Argentina with Messi, the footballer.”

Lionel Messi and his dog Hulk, who as far as is known is in Spain living his last days.

As long as Hulk, the old Messi dog, doesn’t get jealous, everything is possible…

Special thanks to Mabel Lagorio, who served as translator in the interview.

2024-01-27 05:07:14
#incredible #story #Messi #acting #dog #Oscars