It’s rare for a movie to portray pit bulls as good dogs, but that’s what writer-director Matt Williams does in “Walker Payne.” Without preaching, he’s made a wise, entertaining film that, in the tradition of Hollywood movies confronting important but uncomfortable issues, takes on dogfighting and the need to legislate it out of existence.

Set in 1950s Indiana and co-starring Sam Shepard and Bruce Dern, it tells the story of Walker (Jason Patric), a pink-slipped mineworker. Desperate for a way to earn money to gain custody of his two daughters, he trains his faithful dog Brute to compete in illegal dogfights.

Instead of glamorizing pit fighting, the narrative makes clear that it’s a felony offense: Do the crime, and you’ll do the time. It shows just how cruelly these dogs were, and are, exploited by greedy people. And it puts a sympathetic face on the pit bull stereotype, showing that these abused dogs are not the demons they’re often perceived to be.

Many people blame the dogs for what they’re forced to do in the pit, but this movie makes us care about Brute and his opponents as innocent victims. The dogfighting scenes are wrenching and heartbreaking; they moved the audience to tears, gasps and cries of pity.

No dogs were harmed during filming, thanks to the expert choreography of animal trainers Roger Schumacher and Alvin Mears. The canine actors, including “Fonzie” (playing Brute), all were adopted from Los Angeles shelters. When filming wrapped, Schumacher kept Fonzie, and the others went home with smitten crew members.

But for the majority of pit bulls, a happy ending is not in the cards. They will endure treatment harsher than what’s depicted in “Walker Payne”; they will wind up euthanized at animal shelters; their abusive owners will prove unfit as spouses or parents. This movie has what it takes to prevent dogfighting from ruining canine and human lives. Don’t miss it.