Gohan

Official Selection, 2026 New York Asian Film Festival

In Thailand, a white stray dog with a pink nose bonds with three humans, sharing his unshakeable love over a 10-year odyssey filled with joy and sorrow.

Hiro, a retiring Japanese automotive engineer (Yasushi Kitajima), meets a puppy (portrayed by Kori) outside a 7-Eleven, accidentally taking him home and eventually naming him Gohan (“rice”) after a failed attempt to get him adopted by one of his colleagues.

After his time with Hiro comes to a close, Gohan is taken to a dog shelter, where he meets Namcha (Poe Mamhe Thar), an undocumented worker from Myanmar who calls him Brownie (portrayed by Meechok). Seeing themselves in each other, Namcha and Brownie learn to survive together.

Parting with Namcha, Brownie spends his days at a train station, cared for by nearby university students. In an attempt to win over a former classmate who shows an interest in the stray and names him Hima (also the name of the dog who portrays him, meaning “snow”), heartbroken art school dropout Pele (Jinjett “Jaonaay” Wattanasin) takes him in, learning what it means to love and heal.

Each part of Gohan’s epic anthology is directed by a different filmmaker: Chayano Boonprakob, producer Baz Poonririya, and Atta Hemwadee—all dog lovers, naturally. Inspired by a brief, chaotic, yet happy experience producer Vanridee Pongsittisak (Bad Genius, SDAFF ‘17) had caring for a lost dog, GOHAN reminds us that though our time on earth is brief, true love is unconditional and fur-ever.

– Wilda Wong