Prince Turns a Prize Afghan Hound Into the Prize in a Vicious Custody Battle

Ted Redsull

October 20, 2026
4 min read

Prince Turns a Prize Afghan Hound Into the Prize in a Vicious Custody Battle

Prince | In UK Cinemas TBC, Screened at BFI London Film Festival 2026

Prince is a dry, dark comedy following the owner of a prize winning Afghan Hound named Prince. After tragedy strikes, the pair enter into a vicious legal dispute where Prince is seen as the main commodity. A co production between Uruguay and Argentina, this is a darkly humorous tale of wealth, family and faded glory. Prince had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

The tone that director Federico Borgia creates in Prince isn’t that of your usual comedy. The scenes don’t feel light and airy; there’s a tension in the air and a dense eerie atmosphere that something bad is going to happen. This can sometimes come off as confusing, ideas and interactions go by with sinister intent and leave the viewer unsure of how to feel within the world of the film. This isn’t necessarily a problem, in contemporary cinema we’ve become accustomed to the idea of a comedy being more a fluid idea than a strict set of genre tropes, think of the work of Wes Anderson or Yorgos Lanthimos. Filmmakers who have made ‘comedies’ with the dryness and visual stylings that feel like influences on Prince. This film is a visual treat that glides along with a lowkey shot choice that grounds this simple story, the shots of the titular Prince are observational and invite some noteworthy dog acting, a feat sure to heighten any film.

The performances amble along with a low energy, executing their comedy through quiet visual action rather than witty dialogue. Of course, you have the already mentioned Prince but right alongside the handsome hound is Roberto Suárez as Jaime. Suárez’s distinct look of receding bleached hair and sun tanned skin partnered with his large dazed blue eyes makes for a protagonist that immediately places us in the world Borgia wanted to create, one of burnt out dreams and lack of awareness, one where money is something to chase but the means of it are muddy. Alongside Suárez is a small collection of supporting characters who occasionally add humour and conflict but seem to be forgotten in the grand scheme of things.

The main issue holding Prince back from being a knockout dark comedy is the script which seems unsure of where the film should go and happily shakes off potential plot lines, instead going down different routes. The story seems to run into a paradox: never settling enough for the viewer to engage but also never seeming to ever really take a risk at dramatically shifting the plot. The screenplay isn’t without interest, it’s a solid idea that just seems like it needed more of the juice to be squeezed out of it.

Prince is a chill South American stoner comedy that maintains a steady level of entertainment but finds problems when it tries to make that leap to greatness. Well directed and nicely shot, Prince has a small collection of fun characters in what should be more interesting circumstances. Instead, we’re left with a dark comedy which is uncanny and interesting if not entirely enjoyable.

Prince screens through 18 October as part of BFI London Film Festival 2026, and EyeOnLondon rates it a curious, if uneven, watch for anyone who likes their comedy bone dry.

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