After rescuing a dog and going through an ordeal with him, El Chivo finds himself thinking differently while working on a new assignment.Įl Chivo is such a dominant force in terms of his persona, as his face says so much about who this man is, even before learning his backstory. He walks around town with his cart and multiple dogs, taking on jobs from a corrupt police commander.
The final segment concerns El Chivo ( Emilio Echevarria), a vagrant the film has featured at various times, who is actually a professional hitman. The nature of the dog’s disappearance serves as a fitting metaphor for what’s taking place, with a high level of tragedy coming from something that appears to be right in front of them yet cannot be properly released. There are many arguments and shouting for this segment, which contrasts with the first as far as the relationship dynamic is concerned. They have a dog, Richie, who disappears underneath some floorboards, causing a lot of panic and stress on the two, who can’t get him to come. She’s just moved in with Daniel ( Alvaro Guerrero), who has left his family for her. She’s a supermodel injured in the car accident, leaving her leg broken.
Valeria ( Goya Toledo) is the focus of the second story. The crime element also adds a level of intensity, complicating the journey Octavio is on with a wild card aspect regarding the shady and dangerous activities he’s involved himself, his friend, and his dog in. This segment’s whole attitude is intense but fits with a style that challenges the viewer to root for Octavio yet feel conflicted over his actions. It’s a rough watch, even with clever editing that does a lot to imply what’s taking place instead of actually showing anything. Cofi is a tough dog and wins all his matches easily, making lots of money for Octavio.
To free her from an abusive relationship, he decides to use his rottweiler, Cofi, for dog fights. The first story focuses on Octavio ( Gael Garcia Bernal, in one of his breakout roles) and his attempts to win over his brother’s wife, Susana ( Vanessa Bauche).
Thanks to kinetic handheld work and a fine handle on these various characters, thanks to writer Guillermo Arriaga, despite lasting 153 minutes, this is an involving story that also knows how to wear the viewer down, given the intensity.
Using this event as a marker, the viewer can determine where they are on the timeline while also noting other connections and characters who have a way of appearing in different capacities throughout the film. Set in contemporary Mexico, the film is constructed from three distinct stories linked by a car accident. Those who own or love dogs will still have a lot of stress to concern themselves with (though none were actually harmed), but Amores Perros is an excellent film given a proper Criterion upgrade. The Criterion Collection has done all they could to deliver a release fitting of the power Iñárritu’s crime drama hold, complete with a brand new 4K digital restoration, a new 5.1 lossless soundtrack, and a great collection of extras. Iñárritu’s first film, Amores Perros, is an exceedingly confident debut, which melded together three stories, all linked by one defining moment, and greater themes connected to life, along with the presence of dogs. Bursting onto the scene in 2000, after spending years as a radio DJ, Alejandro G.