Image: Sony Pictures Classics
Netflix is closing out January with a critically acclaimed addition to its drama library. The film adaptation of Alexandra Fuller’s best-selling memoir, let’s not go to the dogs tonightNotably, Netflix is set to make its streaming debut on the US.
This release comes through the streamer’s ongoing output deal with Sony Pictures (specifically the Sony Pictures Classics label). The film was released late last year, following a successful festival run including premieres at the Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals (TIFF). received by label At the end of September.
we can confirm this let’s not go to the dogs tonight Will be available to stream on Netflix US starting Thursday, January 29, 2026.
What is the movie about?
This is the directorial debut of the veteran actress embeth davids ,matilda, Schindler’s List), the film is a raw and unflinching look at the end of the colonial era in Africa.
Set against the backdrop of the Rhodesian Bush War in the 1980s (just before the country became Zimbabwe), the story is told through the eyes of Bobo, an 8-year-old girl. As the war for freedom rages around them, Bobo lives a chaotic life with her “casual racist and full-time alcoholic” parents, who are determined to hold on to their farm at any cost.
The official summary describes it as:
“Through the eyes of 8-year-old Bobo (Lexi Venter), we see the final days of white-ruled Rhodesia. As her family clings to their farm amid the violence of the independence struggle, Bobo struggles to understand her mother’s mental turmoil, her father’s absence, and the complex, fractured world she has inherited.”
Appealing to similar audiences for films like power of dog Or Roma, This film is a must watch for fans of auteur cinema. The film has a Certified Fresh rating on RottenTomatoes. with unanimous reading“Tackling thorny topics with fierce intelligence and a wonderful performance from Lexi Venter, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is a stunning feature debut from writer-director Embeth Davidtz.”
The audience score across the board is equally impressive, again at 83% on RT, with IMDb slightly lower at 6.9/10. is also in the movie vying for many awards throughout awards season, with hopes of adding to its trophy cabinet.
Who is in the cast?
Embeth Davidtz pulled triple duty on the project: she wrote the screenplay, directed the film, and played the lead role.
- lexi venter Delivers a stellar performance as the young hero, Bobo. Critics at TIFF praised his ability to carry the film’s heavy emotional weight.
- embeth davids Nicola Fuller plays Bobo’s unstable, gun-wielding and alcoholic mother.
- Zikhona Bali It stars Sarah, the family maid, who has a complicated relationship with Bobo.
- Rob Van Vuuren Tim Fuller plays Bobo’s father.
Will you be watching this adaptation of Alexandra Fuller’s memoir on January 29? Let us know in the comments below!