Amores Perros
Topic: Amores Perros
Title: Amores Perros

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez I?arritu

Writer: Guillermo Arriaga

Year Released:2000

Language: Spanish

Cast: El Chivo -- Emilio Echevarria
Octavio -- Gael Garcia Bernal
Valeria -- Goya Toledo
Daniel -- Alvaro Guerrero
Susana -- Vanessa Bauche
Luis -- Jorge Salinas
Ramiro -- Marco Perez
Gustavo -- Rodrigo Murray
Jorge -- Humberto Busto
Mauricio -- Gerardo Campbell
Aunt Luisa -- Rosa Maria Bianchi
Susana's Mother -- Dunia Saldivar
Octavio's Mother -- Adriana Barraza
Leonardo -- Jose Sefami
Maru -- Lourdes Echevarria

Setting: Mexico

Synopsis: This is a brilliant movie in which love is examined in three of its most common forms. Octavio and Susana are symbolic of new love. Love which must be fought for and won, the two are very passionate and there is much lust in their relationship. The second form of love taken in this movie is seen with Valeria and Daniel. This relationship is a very physically driven love. Daniel has left has separated from his wife in order to move in with Valeria, the stereotypicaly gorgeous supermodel. Finally the third kind of love is shown by the story of El Chivo. This is a man who gave up his wife and daughter in order to fight for his beliefs. He is looking back now and regretting his decision. He is symbolic of past love, a very nostalgic character that looks to the past to find consolation.
With those three basic storylines, this movie incorporates multiple techniques in order to keep the audience guessing and involved in the movie. Most notably can be seen by the title, Love’s a Bitch. This title explains the painful situations in which the characters find themselves in this movie. The titles alternate meaning, that of a female dog, alludes to a very key theme: dogs. Octavio attempts to provide for his love by fighting his dog, Valeria loves her dog like a son, and El Chivo cares for many dogs that keep him company in his lonely life. Many things can be said about the symbolism involved with the dogs in this movie, and each viewer is free to derive their own meanings. While watching this movie, keep in mind the relationship between the dog and its owner and the metaphorical significance of this relationship and comparison. The connection and similarities are a key factor in the plot.

Opinion: Perhaps the single most important scene in this movie is the car crash. In this one scene, which is replayed multiple times, all three story lines are brought together. After this interaction all three story lines change immensely. This single scene is the backbone of the movie, and is the point from which the drama and action are based.
All in all this movie is phenomenal. It is a very well written and directed piece of cinema that every movie lover and any person with an interest in human relationships needs to watch. There is heavy violence and this movie should only be watched by people who can look past violence and see that it contributes to the movie as a whole. Any viewer who is unable to look past this fact should reconsider judging the movie. It must be remembered that this film was produced and created in Mexico, a culture and a country entirely different than the United States. Amores Perros is most definitely one of the best movies I have ever watched and knowing that absolutely no animals were harmed in its production was very important. Any person who has already seen this movie, I ask you to judge not the violence, but the story and the movie as a whole, and for anyone who has not yet watched this movie, I advise you to go pick it up and be prepared to be amazed by this brilliant cinematic creation, just the first movie Alejandro Gonzalez I?arritu has directed.

In order to consider the brilliance and violence of this movie scan the following critique quotes. (senorcine takes no credit for the following critiques and each is based on someone else’s opinion which may differ from the reviewer posting this movie)

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Various Quotes
(taken from Movie ReviewRotten Tomatoes)

"For those willing to submit to its terrible charms, it may be the single most important debut to come out of the Americas in years."
-- Marc Savlov, AUSTIN CHRONICLE

"A truly stunning film, both horrible and beautiful."
-- Dave White, IFILM

"Grabs our attention... Innaritu is a clever visual stylist."
-- Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK CRITIC

"It has an underlying warmth that elevates it to greatness."
-- Eric D. Snider, ERICDSNIDER.COM

"Never fails to be smart, engaging, audacious and haunting."
-- Bob Strauss, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

"The level of violence is so gratuitous and so disgusting that I picked up my coat several times and started to walk out, something I almost never do."
-- Steve Rhodes, STEVE RHODES' INTERNET REVIEWS

"Amores Perros is not simply another movie; it is a benchmark in film history."
-- David Perry, CINEMA-SCENE.COM

"Ferocious and beautiful."
-- Donald Munro, FRESNO BEE