Peggy, a happy-go-lucky secretary who is a great friend, employee, and sister, lives alone with her adorable beagle, Pencil. Peggy and Pencil have a blissful relationship full of love, appreciation, and companionship. One night Pencil wakes up to go potty and unexpectedly sets off a chain of events that change the course of Peggy's life.

Mike White, who has penned such Sundance favorites as Chuck & Buck and The Good Girl, makes an auspicious directorial feature debut at this year's Festival with Year of the Dog, a richly crafted tale of self-discovery that is at once comedic, poignant, and compassionate. White creates a compelling world, populated with his signature brand of funny, off-kilter characters who are endearing and extremely committed to their cause. He elicits insightful performances from a fantastic ensemble cast, including Laura Dern, John C. Reilly, Regina King, and Peter Sarsgaard, but the gem at the heart of Year of the Dog is Molly Shannon's multifaceted portrait of Peggy, a woman who radiates enduring optimism, even in the face of hardship and judgment by others. Altogether, Year of the Dog is a charming and resonant film that will leave you laughing and crying, especially if you are a dog lover.