Released in the UK with the title of Bombón (El Perro), this is a lovely little movie. Although life is hard, the characters in the story show that love, joy and friendship can be found - often in the most unexpected places. Contrary to my expectations, it was not a simple tale of "man meets dog and together they form an inseparable bond that brings them through many hardships" but rather a more subtle and involved tale that gave you deeper insight into the life of the main character Coco Villegas. Although lacking Hollywood attention grabbers, the film keeps you constantly engaged and finishes with a twist that helps you leave with a smile.
34 Reviews
A sweet film
pablocarlos15 July 2006
A mild-mannered middle-aged man who has lost his job as a mechanic struggles to make ends meet while living with his daughter's family. After he helps out a woman whose car has broken down, he receives as a gift a pedigree dog. Through a chance meeting, he winds up being drawn into the less than perfect world of dog shows and breeding. Villegas, the main character, seems an innocent in this world, and his trusting nature and desire to make a better life for himself make him the victim of an unscrupulous trainer. But it is his kindness and his affection for the dog that shine through all the adversity. The film's greatest attributes are the minimalist performances by the entire cast and the simple telling of the story. Heartwarming and human.
Sweet little movie, giving us an Argentinian ambiance more than a story
Freycinet17 September 2005
This is the story of a man and his dog, a story acted out on two backdrops: One is the depressing socio-economic situation of Argentina, where jobs are few and far between and life becomes an eternal quest for a few pesos, a job, dignity. The other backdrop is the harsh but grand nature of Patagonia, windswept vistas, arid land, cold air and a strong sun beating down on the expansive landscape.
Coco is looking for a job and a living. He's single, 55'ish and staying at his daughter's place, trying to not be in the way, and trying to help out, but unable to aid the family economically. He is a good man, willing to work but not to be unjust in his dealings with other unfortunate people.
One day he selflessly helps a woman stranded on a deserted road with a broken-down car. As a thank you he is offered the huge dog of her deceased father: He accepts it, little knowing how it will change his life.
The basic premise of this movie is that if you're a good person, you will be rewarded. Knowing that reality in a country like Argentina is very far from this, we - as spectators - always fear that Coco will be cheated by somebody.
The movie progresses at a slow, deliberate pace, reflecting the immobility of Patagonian life. More than a story, because there is actually not much of a story told, it gives us an ambiance, a feeling for the life of people in these southern regions of Argentina. It is a beautiful anthropological document, even more so because the protagonists are completely believable, despite (or maybe because of) the fact that they aren't even played by professional actors.
Recommended as a sweet, small movie for a quiet evening.
Coco is looking for a job and a living. He's single, 55'ish and staying at his daughter's place, trying to not be in the way, and trying to help out, but unable to aid the family economically. He is a good man, willing to work but not to be unjust in his dealings with other unfortunate people.
One day he selflessly helps a woman stranded on a deserted road with a broken-down car. As a thank you he is offered the huge dog of her deceased father: He accepts it, little knowing how it will change his life.
The basic premise of this movie is that if you're a good person, you will be rewarded. Knowing that reality in a country like Argentina is very far from this, we - as spectators - always fear that Coco will be cheated by somebody.
The movie progresses at a slow, deliberate pace, reflecting the immobility of Patagonian life. More than a story, because there is actually not much of a story told, it gives us an ambiance, a feeling for the life of people in these southern regions of Argentina. It is a beautiful anthropological document, even more so because the protagonists are completely believable, despite (or maybe because of) the fact that they aren't even played by professional actors.
Recommended as a sweet, small movie for a quiet evening.
another Argentina
tomgrau27 September 2004
Sorin has managed to show an Argentina which not many Argentinians are used to see in film. With "El perro" and "Historias minimas" he surprises the audience with the complete absence of surprises. The beautifully portrayed characters in this movie are so simple that you cannot feel nothing but thankful for being able to share a part of their life. This could be seen as another of the stories Sorin showed us in "historias mínimas", but this one is maybe even more simple and it is that simplicity which makes this movie so great. It is also a great lesson for us Argentinias that are always waiting for someone who will take advantage of the main character........that is the biggest surprise this film has waiting for us.
Tomm
Tomm
El Perro: A Lighthearted, Simple, Credulous Story
imagiking8 February 2010
Yet another film which I've stumbled across in the early hours of the morning, El Perro is a smalltime Argentinian offering.
The film presents us with a nice little tale of an elderly and recently laid off mechanic. Through his proclivity towards helping others, he comes into possession of a dog "La Chien", whom he soon befriends and together with Donado, a dog trainer he comes into contact with, begins to enter into professional contests.
From its beginning, we are introduced to the main character Coco, a lonely man searching for purpose after having lost his job. A lighthearted, simple, credulous story dotted with chuckles and moments of "Awww", El Perro brings us an excellent portrayal of an immensely likable character. Quietly suffering the sense of loss after his dismissal, Coco is a warm protagonist, if not a flawless one. The charming Juan Villegas portrays effectively the relationship his character forges with the initially disobedient canine. Their growth to friendship feels a little too swift, however, the dog's change very sudden and apparently reasonless. The film has very little going against it, but at the same time, does not have a huge amount going for it, its simplicity ultimately standing against it in terms of effect.
More cute than meaningful, with a story slightly too weak to carry it the full way, El Perro lacks some of the characterization and depth which might have earned it a higher rating. Warm and memorable despite this, it is certainly worth a watch.
The film presents us with a nice little tale of an elderly and recently laid off mechanic. Through his proclivity towards helping others, he comes into possession of a dog "La Chien", whom he soon befriends and together with Donado, a dog trainer he comes into contact with, begins to enter into professional contests.
From its beginning, we are introduced to the main character Coco, a lonely man searching for purpose after having lost his job. A lighthearted, simple, credulous story dotted with chuckles and moments of "Awww", El Perro brings us an excellent portrayal of an immensely likable character. Quietly suffering the sense of loss after his dismissal, Coco is a warm protagonist, if not a flawless one. The charming Juan Villegas portrays effectively the relationship his character forges with the initially disobedient canine. Their growth to friendship feels a little too swift, however, the dog's change very sudden and apparently reasonless. The film has very little going against it, but at the same time, does not have a huge amount going for it, its simplicity ultimately standing against it in terms of effect.
More cute than meaningful, with a story slightly too weak to carry it the full way, El Perro lacks some of the characterization and depth which might have earned it a higher rating. Warm and memorable despite this, it is certainly worth a watch.
A very interesting movie about men, dogs, and life
headhunter469 April 2013
It moves a bit slow at times compared to the movies with cars flying through the air and things exploding. This is not an action movie, it is more about life and the things people experience.
The main character is out of work, struggling to get by while selling some very nice hand made knives. By chance he ends up with a very LARGE white dog. Ownership of the dog opens doors he could never have imagined. Along with the open doors come a few complications that make the movie quite interesting. The main character is a 50 somethings, very likable man. A kind-hearted person that all of us should be so lucky as to include amongst friends.
Nice scenery, good music, and a few twists and turns make this a rather sweet movie. This is one I will watch again.
The main character is out of work, struggling to get by while selling some very nice hand made knives. By chance he ends up with a very LARGE white dog. Ownership of the dog opens doors he could never have imagined. Along with the open doors come a few complications that make the movie quite interesting. The main character is a 50 somethings, very likable man. A kind-hearted person that all of us should be so lucky as to include amongst friends.
Nice scenery, good music, and a few twists and turns make this a rather sweet movie. This is one I will watch again.
Too nice!
dickback11 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This film is too nice. It's about a dog ("El perro" is just "The dog"), as the film poster clearly shows, with Bonbon the dog's head filling all the frame, and the main character's head only in the background. And then it's about the dog owner. Secondarily.
Above all, it's about a simple life. If you just do the good to the others, give your time when you've got plenty of it, help your next even when you'd be in the first place the one who needs help more, plan your future as it was your present, and enjoy what you get... well, if all that is true, a dog can really help your life. Especially when it is a gift.
Marco
Above all, it's about a simple life. If you just do the good to the others, give your time when you've got plenty of it, help your next even when you'd be in the first place the one who needs help more, plan your future as it was your present, and enjoy what you get... well, if all that is true, a dog can really help your life. Especially when it is a gift.
Marco
well made
ipy22 May 2005
What a movie! This is one of the movies that gives you a feeling like you've met the lead actor, like you've known him for all your life. A kind of film that in all its simplicity shows the magic of life transported on the movie canvas. Staring with the fact that during the movie you can't stop thinking "where in the hell did he found the lead actor (Juan Villegas),he must be a actor-legend in Argentina" and then you find out that man used to park the director's (Carlos Sorin) car for 5 years before he put him on film. It doesn't end here, it's that none of the actors in film are professional actors, so to speak. An art it self is getting that maximum out them and he did. Pure emotions on movie canvas, a master-piece in a small life story.
Not bad, but I'd like to see more dog!
chephy13 June 2006
It was worth my time to watch the movie. It has that gentleness and simplicity about it that distinguishes it from the run of the mill Hollywood flicks with overly dramatic and yet entirely predictable plots. This is just a tale of a man and his dog...
Now, as a dog lover I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to see more of this huge and beautiful dog. Most of the time the camera showed the face of the man, Coco (the dog owner) - and while it is certainly a nice face, the dog's face is worth showcasing just as much. This is not to say that the film is bad however, just that it doesn't concentrate on the dog as much as on the owner.
Now, as a dog lover I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to see more of this huge and beautiful dog. Most of the time the camera showed the face of the man, Coco (the dog owner) - and while it is certainly a nice face, the dog's face is worth showcasing just as much. This is not to say that the film is bad however, just that it doesn't concentrate on the dog as much as on the owner.
The story of a "simple mechanic"
simon_acors4 July 2005
A captivating story told in a subtle naturalistic cinematic style. A largely novice cast give fine performances. Special mention should be made of Juan Villegas' portrayal of the main character 'Coco'; a good-hearted and modest ex-gas-station attendant who is vainly looking for work doing "simple mechanics". Coco's journey is engrossing and leads the viewer in an understated manner through the social landscapes of unemployment, poverty and inequality to the quaint world of dog exhibiting, whilst all the time the natural and industrial landscapes of Patagonia (beautifully filmed by Hugo Colace) serve to provide a sometimes bleak and sometimes beautiful visual canvas.
The characters he meets, from the boastful dog-trainer to the empathetic restaurant-singer, are finely drawn and are often contrasted against Coco's simplicity and naivity. Unlike some I didn't find the ending a disappointment - I'd say that it proved a fitting climax.
This gem of a film has many facets. As a foreign viewer I found wit, pathos and charm aplenty. I found a world that was believable, at turns hauntingly sad and others full of kindness and hope; characters that I cared about and whose story I wanted to follow.
And then of course there is Bombon! a dog of impeccable pedigree who fills the screen (literally) and who is the catalyst in Coco's life... he should be the canine manifestation of Latin American machismo but he has an effeminate name and questionable libido...
Fine score by Nicolas Sorin - beautiful and never irritating or obtrusive. Worth viewing on the big screen but if you don't then definitely get hold of this film on DVD.
The characters he meets, from the boastful dog-trainer to the empathetic restaurant-singer, are finely drawn and are often contrasted against Coco's simplicity and naivity. Unlike some I didn't find the ending a disappointment - I'd say that it proved a fitting climax.
This gem of a film has many facets. As a foreign viewer I found wit, pathos and charm aplenty. I found a world that was believable, at turns hauntingly sad and others full of kindness and hope; characters that I cared about and whose story I wanted to follow.
And then of course there is Bombon! a dog of impeccable pedigree who fills the screen (literally) and who is the catalyst in Coco's life... he should be the canine manifestation of Latin American machismo but he has an effeminate name and questionable libido...
Fine score by Nicolas Sorin - beautiful and never irritating or obtrusive. Worth viewing on the big screen but if you don't then definitely get hold of this film on DVD.
meandering sweet indie
SnoopyStyle1 May 2016
Juan 'Coco' Villegas is a 52 year old mechanic/attendant who lost his job when the gas station change owner. He lives with his daughter's family. He hasn't seen his wife in 20 years. He tries to sell his homemade knives but nobody is buying. With no education, he is unlikely to find any more work. He helps a woman with a broken down vehicle and she gives him a pedigreed hunting dog in return. After a convenient meeting, he is paired up with big loud dog trainer Walter Donado.
It is a slow meandering Argentine movie with the smiling sweet-natured Coco. It's a nice journey. I personally was more interested in his daughter getting the pipe fixed. It's a journey that drifts from one place to the next. The fact is that Coco is not a driven person. He's not necessarily driving this movie but rather the story is driving him. Nevertheless, his sweet nature keeps this a compelling watch.
It is a slow meandering Argentine movie with the smiling sweet-natured Coco. It's a nice journey. I personally was more interested in his daughter getting the pipe fixed. It's a journey that drifts from one place to the next. The fact is that Coco is not a driven person. He's not necessarily driving this movie but rather the story is driving him. Nevertheless, his sweet nature keeps this a compelling watch.
it could be real
joel-38722 March 2006
There are where you look forward to find a hero, but watching this film you will find your self immerse in the hard realty of someone else. This is a very simple movie, and absolutely realistic. I am Argentinean I have lived several years in Patagonia (where the movie goes on). Eveithing that you see, that hostile but amusing context is there. This is a movie about a guy, 52 years old, in the middle of a crisis. He discover that there is no much place in this new "dinamic" world, since he don't have education (hardly he can read). He is very longly, even if he lives with his daughter. In this moment is when Sorin mange to show again something real. Coco (the MAN) assist a woman with a broken car in the route, and tow her car 150 km and then fix it without desire compensation. Well, I have read comments of people that find this extremely rare...my friends, that happened to me too...my car broke and and actually people stopped to help!! Well, this people that Coco help gives him a present. A dog. No any dog, a "Dogo Argentino". it is like "The" Argentinean dog. Perhaps the most remarkable "hability" of this dog is the loyalty. The film keeps going, and Coco find him self in a lot of new situations because of the dog. Well, you will become immerse in a adventure. In the world of coco. It is a very simple movie, excellent job. Doesn't need anything else.
A Gentle, well shot and entertaining Argentinian film
tresdodge3 October 2005
Coco, an unemployed 52 year old mechanic,lives with his daughter in her small, chaotic family home. Poor and unable to find a job he spends his time selling knives whose handles he has specially crafted. One day he stops to help a woman whose car has broken down by towing her 150 km to her parents home. Here he fixes her car and as payment he is given a large but rather beautiful dog called Bombom by her mother. From here Coco's life changes as he meets Walter Donado who trains him to be a dog handler with the belief that Bombom will win them lots of prizes at dog shows.
A really pleasant way to spend a Monday evening. I was astonished at the acting ability of this inexperienced group, especially the lead Juan Villegas whose kindly face was quite captivating. The story was simple, effective, humorous and kept me intrigued throughout. The Argentinan landscape was a pleasant, if at times bleak, one.
I really enjoyed this film experience and highly recommend it to others.
A really pleasant way to spend a Monday evening. I was astonished at the acting ability of this inexperienced group, especially the lead Juan Villegas whose kindly face was quite captivating. The story was simple, effective, humorous and kept me intrigued throughout. The Argentinan landscape was a pleasant, if at times bleak, one.
I really enjoyed this film experience and highly recommend it to others.
one man and his dog...
skiddo28 June 2005
what a lovely, lovely film.
bleak and beautiful, desperate and hopeful.
i personally have a real problem watching movies that have dogs as main characters... my empathy is totally with the dog - i can rarely care less what happens to the people as long as nothing bad happens to the dog. quite a turn up then when i find myself desperately rooting for coco, bombom's new owner, lost in his new world of dog showing, naive and ripe for the picking...
brilliant movie, go see it, go buy it. don't wait for the nicholson and hooch Hollywood remake!
bleak and beautiful, desperate and hopeful.
i personally have a real problem watching movies that have dogs as main characters... my empathy is totally with the dog - i can rarely care less what happens to the people as long as nothing bad happens to the dog. quite a turn up then when i find myself desperately rooting for coco, bombom's new owner, lost in his new world of dog showing, naive and ripe for the picking...
brilliant movie, go see it, go buy it. don't wait for the nicholson and hooch Hollywood remake!
so simple, so damn good!
Nzup19 July 2005
In the times of McHollywood and all the crap, it is good to know that we still have this kind of movies.
Time is what Juan, the lead actor in the movie, has the most and he uses that time to desperately find a steadier job and occasionally sells hand made knives nobody can afford. The simplicity of "Bombon, el perro" will captivate you. While following the lead actor during his search fornew life opportunities the film never misses an occasion to show thesocial situation in the country, Argentina, with both seriousness and humor.
The main actor gives us a savagely good performance in this film. His body language and mimic, his talk, a great pleasure!
Time is what Juan, the lead actor in the movie, has the most and he uses that time to desperately find a steadier job and occasionally sells hand made knives nobody can afford. The simplicity of "Bombon, el perro" will captivate you. While following the lead actor during his search fornew life opportunities the film never misses an occasion to show thesocial situation in the country, Argentina, with both seriousness and humor.
The main actor gives us a savagely good performance in this film. His body language and mimic, his talk, a great pleasure!
Coco and his dog
aaydede23 April 2005
I wasn't expecting a lot form this movie when I first bought the ticket. However the story of the mechanic whose life changed after owning a very special breed of dog turned out to be rather interesting one. The main character Coco needs to be commended for his astonishing work. His facial expressions in almost every single shot carried out some aspect of his character's naive nature. Even though the story doesn't end with a very striking ending, it can't be considered as a slowly paced one. The shot with the machines and Coco's car, where Coco is riding in the fields of the factory is a very good one indeed. Other than that, the technical aspects such as the color and the sound add a lot to the movie's close to real atmosphere.
fine Argentine film about a dog, an out of work mechanic and libido issues
mj_togher25 September 2005
A beautifully made film about a down on his luck out of work mechanic (who specialised in "simple mechanics") and a pedigree dog he is given after rescuing a woman who had broken down 150k from home. Her mother decides to give him a pedigree dog left to her by her husband, despite being broke, the man accepts the gift and then has to work out how he can support himself and the dog
Set in Patagonia, the film focuses on the man, the dog, and both of their libidos - neither seem at all interested in sex (the man hasn't seen his wife in 20 years) together they set off on an adventure, of sorts, involving dog shows, a drunken dog exhibitor, stud fees, and a cabaret singer.
funny and touching in parts, well worth checking out.
Set in Patagonia, the film focuses on the man, the dog, and both of their libidos - neither seem at all interested in sex (the man hasn't seen his wife in 20 years) together they set off on an adventure, of sorts, involving dog shows, a drunken dog exhibitor, stud fees, and a cabaret singer.
funny and touching in parts, well worth checking out.
totally charming, simple, and full of love and hope
LeandraZZZ14 November 2005
We are so used to seeing the world besmirched and we are so used to hearing about the big bad corporations exploiting the innocents in third world countries, and now at last here is a movie which tells us about simple people, simply living in the context of the corporations and being philosophical about their power, and in the meantime getting on with their own lives and making them happy and fulfilled. This delightful movie shows us that where natural processes are exploited without love and for no other purpose than to build egos and to make money, it does not work - everything becomes dysfunctional. But when things are left to unfold naturally in their own time, everything works beautifully, and there is much joy and laughter - and hope for the now and for the future. Against the backdrop of windswept empty plains, Villegas passes through it all with kind eyes and a beatific smile - and El Perro is a total joy, the key to opening up the magic. Should be required viewing as a sane antidote to all the madness today.
A South American Shaggy Dog story!
patrick-bliss-126 October 2005
Why is Latin American is so good at making movies about Pitt Bull Terriers? After the astonishing Amores Perros, we now have a very different type of film with the breed (or at least a near relation, a potentially vicious looking piece of canine whatever way you look at it) at its centre. In the UK at least, and the USA I'm sure, Pitt Bulls are considered a social menace on a level with gun crime, but the Argentineans seem to admire, even evoke sympathy for this breed.
Coco is an out of work mechanic, who ekes out a living making and selling carved knife handles while he touts for business at various garages and workshops in a desolate part of Patagonia. On his travels, he comes across a woman whose car has broken down by the side of the road and agrees to fix it for her. She repays him with a dog championship pedigree from her husbands' dog breeding business. So begins an enchanting buddy movie with a twist as Coco embarks on a journey into the bizarre world of professional dog shows.
Non-professional actor (apparently he was the directors chauffeur) Juan Villegas is perfectly cast as mild mannered Coco. He has a wonderfully captivating smile, which hides a life tinged with sadness but easily brightened by simple pleasures and acts of kindness. He reminds me a little of the guy in Il Postino, but lets hope he makes more films than he did. I loved the chemistry between Coco and the dog (!), how they're both misplaced souls seeking their true vocation - Coco an experienced mechanic and Bombon a dog bred for hunting. In true dog/owner style they even begin to resemble each other!
The film perfectly captures the bleakness of its Patagonian setting, yet remains warm and uplifting. Ultimately it's a film of hope and friendship, which often bought a smile to my face. There are some lovely little moments, such as when Coco wins a pair of sunglasses that make him look like "the men in black", and the dog training scenes where Coco wears white overalls and resembles Bombon even more you wonder exactly who is training who!The ending is just right and refuses to resort to the sort of gross overstatement that Hollywood would have given similar material. Recommended!
Patrick Bliss, 26/10/05
Coco is an out of work mechanic, who ekes out a living making and selling carved knife handles while he touts for business at various garages and workshops in a desolate part of Patagonia. On his travels, he comes across a woman whose car has broken down by the side of the road and agrees to fix it for her. She repays him with a dog championship pedigree from her husbands' dog breeding business. So begins an enchanting buddy movie with a twist as Coco embarks on a journey into the bizarre world of professional dog shows.
Non-professional actor (apparently he was the directors chauffeur) Juan Villegas is perfectly cast as mild mannered Coco. He has a wonderfully captivating smile, which hides a life tinged with sadness but easily brightened by simple pleasures and acts of kindness. He reminds me a little of the guy in Il Postino, but lets hope he makes more films than he did. I loved the chemistry between Coco and the dog (!), how they're both misplaced souls seeking their true vocation - Coco an experienced mechanic and Bombon a dog bred for hunting. In true dog/owner style they even begin to resemble each other!
The film perfectly captures the bleakness of its Patagonian setting, yet remains warm and uplifting. Ultimately it's a film of hope and friendship, which often bought a smile to my face. There are some lovely little moments, such as when Coco wins a pair of sunglasses that make him look like "the men in black", and the dog training scenes where Coco wears white overalls and resembles Bombon even more you wonder exactly who is training who!The ending is just right and refuses to resort to the sort of gross overstatement that Hollywood would have given similar material. Recommended!
Patrick Bliss, 26/10/05
This is what Argentina is like!
grib-fungi1 September 2005
I watched this film just after coming back from Argentina. We did not go to Patagonia but travelled in the Andean north-west. The film feels exactly like the country does. It is amazingly real, down to the smallest detail like having the windscreen of a car washed at a petrol station while you're sitting inside... It is a vast space populated by people who may not be rich and who appear to be contented and happy, but who probably believe in a miracle of becoming rich one day; people for whom Buenos Aires feels more distant than to someone from the Old World; people who made us feel welcome and at home in spite of our total lack of the language.
After just two weeks in the country it seemed that we could understand the people around perfectly well. Likewise, when watching the film you may only catch an odd word without reading the subtitles, but you understand and feel for and with the characters... no, people who live in it.
After just two weeks in the country it seemed that we could understand the people around perfectly well. Likewise, when watching the film you may only catch an odd word without reading the subtitles, but you understand and feel for and with the characters... no, people who live in it.
Among the trash sits this little gem.
Damfino189516 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know what made me want to record this movie as I'd never heard of it, but, after finally watching it several weeks after initially recording it I'm glad I did. I'm laid up with a painful ear infection and can't bear too much noise, so a sub titled movie would be ideal. It was a real tonic, taking my mind off the pain, bringing a smile to my face and being so happy I'm not one of those narrow minded people who never watched sub titled movies. Every performance was a delight, Juan Villegas, in particular, deserves praise, his performance was charming and spot on for the character he played. And best of all was the ending, no tragic ending, just a heartwarming ending that brought a smile to my face. Highly recommended
WHAT A Dog!
writers_reign24 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Within thirty minutes I was thinking seriously of moving to Argentina or, as it's depicted by Carlos Sorin, Utopia-West. This is a country where a young and reasonably attractive girl can find herself stranded in the middle of nowhere and bask in the knowledge that she won't be raped or otherwise molested by the first guy(s) to come along who will instead by a Candide figure far from home in the shape of jobless, middle-aged Juan Villegas who will think nothing of towing her car 30 kilometers out of his way and then fixing it at her home. A land where the girl's mother, a widow, will not only wine and dine Villegas but also present him with a thoroughbred dog complete with papers in return for his troubles. And we're still not through: Villegas has only to stop at a gas station to have a complete stranger hire both himself and the dog as a security team to guard a factory. More? Okay, Villegas goes to a bank to cash the check he gets for his security work and an executive not only admires the dog but puts Villegas in touch with a dog trainer. What a country. If you can put your cynicism/skepticism on hold then there's a lot to enjoy here. Apparently Sorin is known for avoiding professional actors in favour of real people so that the character of Juan Villegas is played by Juan Villegas whose last job was parking Sorin's car for five years. Similarly the dog 'trainer', Walter Donado is played by Walter Donado. The film seems to be saying that if your heart is pure then your strength is as the strength of ten because within days of meeting the trainer Villegas is the proud owner of both a cup and a ribbon from a local Dog Show. He has only to admire a singer in a cantina to have her invite him back home with her for coffee - and not just ANY old coffee but Turkish coffee. It's debatable whether Voltaire would recognize his creation so far from home but what isn't debatable is the simple humanity that informs this small, gentle movie.
Refreshing, engaging and smart with a real and sensitive atmosphere.
johnnyboyz26 October 2007
I may not know to much about Argentinean film form but from what I have seen in Bombón: El Perro or in English, Chocolate: The Dog; suggests that when it comes to putting across a story, telling us what's what and engaging the audience through various methods that can be applied to film, they know what they're doing.
Everything about El Perro is simple and straightforward; the film presents us one thing, moves on to the next item and never looks back unless it absolutely has to. The film is set within the vast, open landscape of Argentina and despite the year being 2004, it feels more like 1974 since massive oil extractors pump away at the landscape, people drive around in rickety and beat up old cars and vans; abandoned, disused petrol stations litter the side of the highways and frequent interior scenes set inside old farm houses and run down houses and apartments that dominate the screen for most of the time. The vast, open settings on the outside definitely makes the film feel like a road movie of sorts; taking into account one thing, giving it to us to digest and then moving on. A great example would be the scene in which a little girl is to recite a poem on a town hall stage; we are told all about her problem that she loses her voice when she's nervous and the film pauses for her to show us but after that scene, we never hear of her again.
El Perro's 'genius' if you like, also lies in its use of a seemingly pointless cause and effect routine. The first half an hour consists of Juan Villegas (character and actor name) as he attempts to sell knives, gives someone a lift in his van and visits a petrol station; upon getting home he talks to his daughter he's temporarily living with about his day but what meaningless things we talk to one another in our households about are delivered, and then not given a thought about afterwards in El Perro, those meaningless occurrences and tiny, insignificant details are shown and used for entertainment: "Today I won a can of oil and some shades at the petrol station" says Juan, something that his daughter congratulates him on and then nobody gives it another notion since it's happened, been reported and gone but the film shows us everything that happened during the encounter when it didn't need to. This is El Perro doing what only foreign films it would seem can do; emphasise the unnecessary.
El Perro may have been listed as a comedy but it is more a drama than anything else. There are some humorous moments but there are humorous moments in all of our everyday lives and El Perro is no different since it's that route the film has gone down. What El Perro does is that it remains unpredictable; each event leads onto another that eventually ends up in Juan coming into ownership of a dog. I thought the film might change its tune and go down a different path but it remained the dialogue driven drama I'm glad it did with everyday events such as travelling around, talking to people briefly who you won't see again and meeting up with others you know all linking together to create an actual story revolving around a dog show circuit. For instance, the banker Juan meets tells him the dog could be something special if considered for dog shows; a character who has a major impact on the film's route is there but then never seen again as he is an item that's presented, utilised and then discarded as the narrative progresses; fascinating and effective film-making.
The fact a lot of the film is hand held in its camera work and that the two main characters of Juan Villegas and Walter Donado are the real names of the actors playing them, giving off an extremely neo-realistic edge, is enough evidence to suggest that although you could consider Argentina to be in the 'Americas', El Perro is light years away from Hollywood in terms of look, structure and content. I'd recommend this to anyone who would want to get into foreign cinema.
Everything about El Perro is simple and straightforward; the film presents us one thing, moves on to the next item and never looks back unless it absolutely has to. The film is set within the vast, open landscape of Argentina and despite the year being 2004, it feels more like 1974 since massive oil extractors pump away at the landscape, people drive around in rickety and beat up old cars and vans; abandoned, disused petrol stations litter the side of the highways and frequent interior scenes set inside old farm houses and run down houses and apartments that dominate the screen for most of the time. The vast, open settings on the outside definitely makes the film feel like a road movie of sorts; taking into account one thing, giving it to us to digest and then moving on. A great example would be the scene in which a little girl is to recite a poem on a town hall stage; we are told all about her problem that she loses her voice when she's nervous and the film pauses for her to show us but after that scene, we never hear of her again.
El Perro's 'genius' if you like, also lies in its use of a seemingly pointless cause and effect routine. The first half an hour consists of Juan Villegas (character and actor name) as he attempts to sell knives, gives someone a lift in his van and visits a petrol station; upon getting home he talks to his daughter he's temporarily living with about his day but what meaningless things we talk to one another in our households about are delivered, and then not given a thought about afterwards in El Perro, those meaningless occurrences and tiny, insignificant details are shown and used for entertainment: "Today I won a can of oil and some shades at the petrol station" says Juan, something that his daughter congratulates him on and then nobody gives it another notion since it's happened, been reported and gone but the film shows us everything that happened during the encounter when it didn't need to. This is El Perro doing what only foreign films it would seem can do; emphasise the unnecessary.
El Perro may have been listed as a comedy but it is more a drama than anything else. There are some humorous moments but there are humorous moments in all of our everyday lives and El Perro is no different since it's that route the film has gone down. What El Perro does is that it remains unpredictable; each event leads onto another that eventually ends up in Juan coming into ownership of a dog. I thought the film might change its tune and go down a different path but it remained the dialogue driven drama I'm glad it did with everyday events such as travelling around, talking to people briefly who you won't see again and meeting up with others you know all linking together to create an actual story revolving around a dog show circuit. For instance, the banker Juan meets tells him the dog could be something special if considered for dog shows; a character who has a major impact on the film's route is there but then never seen again as he is an item that's presented, utilised and then discarded as the narrative progresses; fascinating and effective film-making.
The fact a lot of the film is hand held in its camera work and that the two main characters of Juan Villegas and Walter Donado are the real names of the actors playing them, giving off an extremely neo-realistic edge, is enough evidence to suggest that although you could consider Argentina to be in the 'Americas', El Perro is light years away from Hollywood in terms of look, structure and content. I'd recommend this to anyone who would want to get into foreign cinema.
Bombón
EdgarST7 July 2011
Good idiosyncratic, and even regional films are usually given very high rating by persons that understand the language spoken in them, and the culture they portray. Other persons –especially those who speak a different language, and belong to another country and/or culture– seem rather baffled by those films, even if they recognize them as good artifacts: the productions are fine, some exceptional. In my opinion, what really counts is what these motion pictures tell to their target audiences. This is the case with "El perro", a film that is better appreciated by those who speak Spanish, and even more by those who understand what it depicts, and what it means to be deprived of the essential conditions to live with dignity. When we are born with material things guaranteed, even in a lower class milieu with the minimum comfort, we are somehow blinded to the harsh aspects of existence that confronts a large part of the world's population (not to mention the planet itself). This film exposes the audiences to a few of these aspects, with care and affection. In the hard socioeconomic conditions that Argentina has lived in recent years, the film tells the story of an unemployed mechanic –who fabricates very beautiful knives to make some money– that receives a dog (a Dogo called Bombón) as a gift, an event that does not bring him great material wealth, but that brings him new perspectives, new friends, new hopes for his existence. Acted by non-professionals, they were directed by a man who used to make advertising spots. Carlos Sorín –responsible for the 1986 Argentine classic "La película del rey"– is one of the best Argentinean filmmakers of the late 20th century, who was able to make a transition for the best in our times. Recommended.
Nice little bonbon...
poe42623 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
About as unpretentious as they come, BOMBON: EL PERRO is a nice little road movie. When the real star of the movie ("Bombon") puts in his first appearance, it's clear that HE is now The Star. My favorite scene in the entire movie comes early in the going, when Bombon takes his Person for a ride. It's a wide shot that drifts back and forth between El Perro and his Person. There's nothing particularly noteworthy happening in the scene, it's just a back and forth shot showing the two principals sitting side by side in the cab of the truck- but it speaks volumes, in ways that Hollywood films rarely (if ever) do. Genius is in the details, we've been told; in BOMBON, the details MAKE the movie (and the ending is, indeed, a fitting climax)...
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