Bear Cub (2004) Cachorro (original title)

Director:

Miguel Albaladejo

Writers:

Miguel Albaladejo
Salvador García Ruiz

Release Date:

27 February 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Parenthood is about to get a little hairer

Plot:

Pedro, a gay man with an active social life and big circle of friends, takes in his nephew Bernardo for a couple weeks...

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Dentist | Human Immunodeficiency Virus | Gay Sex | Single Mother

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

José Luis García Pérez	...	Pedro
David Castillo	...	Bernardo
Empar Ferrer	...	Dª Teresa
Elvira Lindo	...	Violeta
Arno Chevrier	...	Manuel
Mario Arias	...	Javi
Josele Román	...	Gloria
Diana Cerezo	...	Lola
Daniel Llobregat	...	Bernardo 14 años
Juanma Lara	...	Aitor
Jorge Calvo	...	Antonio
Josep Tomàs	...	Juan Carlos (as Josep Tomás)
Juanjo Martínez	...	Iván
Ramón Ramos	...	Ricardo
Patxi Uribarren	...	Quique
Isidro Olmo	...	Ginés
Fernando Albizu	...	Waldo
Javier Martínez	...	Olmo
Pep Morell	...	Jorge
Alfonso Torregrosa	...	Abogado
Fernando Tejero	...	Macarrilla
Roberto Hernández	...	Tío joven
Félix Álvarez	...	Dani
Cali Caballero	...	Borja
Jorge Alcázar	...	Camarero
Montserrat Alcoverro	...	Palmira Fajardo
César Díaz	...	Hombre del Bigote (Detective)
Melanie Beleña	...	Ayudante Dentista
Ana Albaladejo	...	Profesora joven
Felipe Albaladejo	...	Conserje
Paco Luna	...	Ejecutivo Aereopuerto
Daniel Heras	...	Taxista Aeropuerto
Herminia Mendoza	...	Profesora
Manuel Crespo	...	Dependiente
Lucía González	...	Amiga de Bernardo
Adrián Deacal	...	Amigo de Bernardo
Elena Jiménez	...	Amiga 14 años
Juan Ramón Deacal	...	Amigo 14 años
Umesh	...	Funcionario Hindú

Directed by
Miguel Albaladejo

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Miguel Albaladejo
Salvador García Ruiz

Produced by
Juan Alexander	....	producer
Sergio Castellote	....	executive producer
José L. García Arrojo	....	executive producer (as José Luis García Arrojo)

Original Music by
Lucio Godoy

Cinematography by
Alfonso Sanz		(as Alfonso Sanz Alduán)

Film Editing by
Pablo Blanco

Casting by
Amado Cruz
Javier R. Mori		(as Javier Mori)

Art Direction by
José Antonio Carmona

Costume Design by
Silvia García Bravo		(as Silvia García-Bravo)

Makeup Department
Vicent Gaya	....	hair stylist
Manuela Romero	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Nerea Orce	....	unit production manager
Alicia Yubero	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rafael Carmona	....	first assistant director
Daniel Luna	....	director trainee: Valencia
Nathalie Martinez	....	assistant director: Valencia (as Nathalie Martínez)
Óscar Prieto	....	third assistant director
Eva Sánchez	....	second assistant director
Elena Valverde	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ana Company	....	assistant decorator: Valencia
Esmeralda Díaz	....	assistant art director
Manuel Izquierdo	....	art assistant: Valencia
Juan José Jaén	....	art assistant
Manuel Martínez	....	props
Fernando Parrilla	....	art assistant
Alejandro Pavón	....	props
Mónica San Esteban	....	art assistant
Mariano Sanz	....	art assistant: Valencia
Enrique Teigell	....	art assistant (as Enrique Teixell)
Miguel Urtiaga	....	art assistant: Valencia

Sound Department
Pedro Barbadillo	....	assistant: sound editor
Sergio Bürmann	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Sergio Burmann)
Enrique Dominguez	....	sound mixer assistant
Jaime Fernández	....	sound re-recording mixer
José Luis Fernández	....	boom operator
Patrick Ghislain	....	foley mixer
Pelayo Gutiérrez	....	sound editor
Julien Martin	....	assistant sound
Antonio Mejías	....	sound trainee (as Antonio M. Mejías)
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
Óscar Segovia	....	boom operator
Ricardo Viñas	....	dolby sound consultant

Visual Effects by
Eduardo Acosta	....	compositor
Alberto Esteban	....	visual effects producer
Segundo Fernández	....	compositor
Pedro Martínez	....	compositor
Javier Mosqueda	....	telecine colorist
Johnny Raphael	....	graphic effects artist (as Johny Raphael)
Rubén Rivas	....	graphic effects artist
Aurelio Sánchez Herrera	....	visual effects supervisor (as Aurelio Sánchez-Herrera)
Pablo Uria	....	compositor (as Pablo Uría)
Pablo Urrutia	....	visual effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Pilar Aláez	....	still photographer
Juan Aragonés	....	assistant camera
Celia Benavent	....	video assist: Valencia
Pablo Bürmann	....	additional first assistant camera
José Luis Criado	....	focus puller: Valencia
Miguel Ángel Cárdenas	....	gaffer
Eva Díaz	....	making-of (as Eva Díaz)
Antonio Fernández Santamaría	....	key grip
Antonio García	....	additional electrician
José Luis González	....	grip
César Hernando	....	second unit: camera operator
José Hernández	....	second unit: electrician
Francisco Luque	....	electrician
María Masia	....	second assistant camera (as María Masía)
Roberto Navalón	....	assistant camera
Enrique Orce	....	additional electrician
Miguel Ángel Palomino	....	electrician
Alejandro Pla	....	"b" camera operator: Valencia
Francisco Ramos	....	additional electrician
José Sacristán	....	electrician
Alfonso Sanz	....	camera operator (as Alfonso Sanz Alduán)
Isabel Seco Velasco	....	video assistant (as Isabel Seco)
Ángel Yebra	....	steadicam

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sonia Isla	....	seamstress
Karin Quijada	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Pablo Blanco Guzmán	....	assistant editor
David Collado	....	assistant editor
Pascale Dillemann	....	post-production liaison
Álvaro García	....	assistant editor (as Álvaro G. Cueto)
Rosa Sogorb	....	chief of post-production (as Rosa Mª Sogorb)
Luis M. Trouillhet	....	post-production assistant (as Luis Miguel Trouillhet)

Music Department
Jacobo Aguirre	....	music engineer
Rakel Fernández Radel	....	music engineer
Lucio Godoy	....	music producer
Lucio Godoy	....	musician
Pavel Gomziakov	....	musician
Patrick Goraguer	....	music producer
Patrick Goraguer	....	musician
Ara Malikian	....	musician
Julia Malkova	....	musician
Fernando Martínez	....	musician
Enrique Pérez	....	musician
Mikel Ramos Puy	....	musician
Manuel Tobar	....	musician

Other crew
Itziar Aizpuru	....	press
Antonio Bazaga	....	french dialogue
Antonio Bazaga	....	production coordinator
Juan Vicente Bosch	....	location manager: Valencia
Alfredo Canseco	....	production accountant
David Chagoyen	....	production staff
Óscar Cifuentes	....	production staff
Manuel Contreras	....	production trainee: Valencia
Susana de la Mata	....	production staff
Pascale Dillemann	....	festival coordinator
Pascale Dillemann	....	press publicity coordinator
Chencho Fanegas	....	production trainee
Gustavo Gómez de Quero	....	financial director
Rosa Hoyas	....	production assistant: Valencia (as Rosa Mª Hoyas)
Carlos Ibáñez	....	production coordinator: Valencia
Macarena Izquierdo	....	production assistant: Valencia
Ricardo Luengo	....	production accountant
Rafael Luna	....	press (as Rafa Luna)
Joaquín Miguelez	....	production staff (as Joaquín Miguélez)
Javier R. Mori	....	coach: Arno Chevrier
Ana Muñoz	....	chaperone
Javier Rubio	....	production assistant
Rosana Ruiz	....	production coordinator
Salvador Ruiz	....	production accountant
Gemma Santatecla	....	script supervisor: Valencia
Patricia Vila	....	script supervisor
José María Vilches	....	cashier (as José Mª Vilches)
Eva Yuste	....	production staff
Pablo Yuste	....	production trainee: Valencia

Thanks
Ofelia Angélica	....	thanks
Kerman Calvo	....	thanks
Javier Cervera	....	thanks
Ximos Chisvert	....	thanks
Manuel Crespo	....	thanks
Emilio Ferreiro	....	thanks
Enrique Sarasola	....	thanks (as Kike Sarasola)
Paco Serra	....	thanks
Mariano Venancio	....	thanks
Marcos Vélez	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Canal+ España
• Generalitat Valenciana
• Hispanocine Producciones Cinematográficas (as Hispanocine Producciones Cinematográficas S.L.)
• Institut Valencia de Cinematografia (IVAC)
• Star Line TV Productions S.L.
• TeleMadrid
• Televisión Española (TVE)

Distributors

• Cinemien (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (Spain) (theatrical)
• TLA Releasing (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Atalanta Posproducción  post-production facilities
• Cinearte  post-production sound services
• DAPA Son Estudio  post-production sound services
• Dreams Boulevard  extras casting: Valencia
• EPC  camera equipment provided by (as E.P.C.)
• El Corte Inglés  acknowledgement
• El Isocarro  art department services
• Estudio El Sonado  post-production sound services
• Eurocinema  transportation services
• Exa S.A.  post-production sound services (as EXA)
• Gerling  insurances
• La Bocina  post-production sound services
• Legrand Española  acknowledgement
• Mahou  acknowledgement
• Mariano Cárdenas Iluminación S.L.  grip and lighting equipment (as Mariano Cárdenas, S.L.)
• Mengíbar  art department services (as R. Mengíbar)
• Molinare  digital postproduction
• Moulinex  acknowledgement
• Pepsi  acknowledgement
• Peris Hermanos  wardrobe (as Peris Hmnos.)
• Producido en Madrid S.L.  extras casting
• Rafael Hosteleria Internacional S.A.  catering (as Rafael)
• Rowenta  acknowledgement
• Shiseido  acknowledgement
• Solan de Cabras  acknowledgement
• Story Film-Pablo Núñez  titles and opticals
• Studio Copra  post-production sound services
• Tefal  acknowledgement

Also Known As:

"Cachorro" - Spain (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, drug use and language

Runtime:

Spain:100 min | USA:99 min | Argentina:100 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Spain

Language:

French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Unrated | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Spain:18 | Chile:14 | Australia:R | Brazil:18 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Company:

Canal+ España

Trivia:

The Spanish title "Cachorro" literally translates as "puppy", "pup" or "cub".

Quotes:

Bernardo:Uncle?
Pedro:What?
Bernardo:When my mother left me here, I didn't want to stay with you.
Pedro:I didn't want you here either, can you believe that?
Bernardo:Now I love you a lot.
Pedro:I love you more.
Bernardo:I love you a lot...

Movie Connections:

References The Jungle Book (1967)

Soundtrack:

Hombres

An uncompromising, well-acted dramedy for mature audiences

"Bear Cub" (Cachorro) has been shown at several film festivals since it was first released in its native Spain in early 2004. I saw the movie on Opening Night at the ImageOut Film Festival in Rochester, NY. The near-capacity crowd was very receptive to the film.

The story, about a gay man who finds himself taking care of his young nephew for an unexpectedly extended period, has been done before in different variations ("About a Boy", "Three Men and a Baby", television's Bachelor Father, etc.). Compared with other movies, "Bear Cub" stands out by not compromising the depiction of the main character's social life especially with the explicit and what will be a very controversial opening sequence. (Note: the opening scenes and a few other scenes were edited for general release in the U.S. I saw the unedited version at the film festival I attended.)

I'm happy of the decision by co-writer/director Miguel Abaladejo (with co-writer Salvador García Ruiz) to present to the moviegoers a subculture of the gay population called Bears. It might open a few people's minds. Pedro, the lead character (well-played by José Luis García Pérez) and his circle of friends do not fit the dominant depiction of what gay men look like especially in movies: bearded and husky.

Another thing that impressed me was the performance of David Castillo. He plays Bernardo, the precocious nephew who is mature way beyond his years but, in one of the many plot twists that propel the film, there are reasons why he is that way.

I almost forgot to mention how funny and touching this film is. Bear Cub is a very well-balanced dramedy. The comedy comes out of the unusual familial situation and when complications arise in the guise of Bernardo's estranged paternal grandmother Doña Teresa (Empar Ferrer), it made for a very compelling drama.

The decision to change the aspect of the movie from just observing the characters to having some of the characters talk to the camera in the final 20 minutes was not a good idea. Despite that flaw, I found Bear Cub to be a timely, well-performed and memorable film.

P.S.: I would bet a few dollars that a production company in Hollywood would be too cowardly to remake a film like this much less buy the rights to make the movie. The movie's honest depiction of a man having a social gay life without making value judgments might be too much for some viewers or, for that matter, some members of the Hollywood community to tolerate.