Amores Perros (2000)

A horrific car accident connects three stories, each involving characters dealing with loss, regret, and life's harsh realities, all in the name of love.

Director:

Alejandro G. Iñárritu (as Alejandro González Iñárritu)

Writer:

Guillermo Arriaga (as Guillermo Arriaga Jordán)

Stars:

Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Goya Toledo

Top Rated Movies #213 | Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 55 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emilio Echevarría	...	El Chivo
Gael García Bernal	...	Octavio (as Gael García)
Goya Toledo	...	Valeria
Álvaro Guerrero	...	Daniel (as Alvaro Guerrero)
Vanessa Bauche	...	Susana
Jorge Salinas	...	Luis
Marco Pérez	...	Ramiro
Rodrigo Murray	...	Gustavo
Humberto Busto	...	Jorge
Gerardo Campbell	...	Mauricio
Rosa María Bianchi	...	Tía Luisa (Aunt Luisa)
Dunia Saldívar	...	Mama Susana (Susana's Mother)
Adriana Barraza	...	Mama Octavio (Octavio's Mother)
José Sefami	...	Leonardo
Lourdes Echevarría	...	Maru

Storyline

On the brink of the new Millennium in the bustling City of Mexico, one horrible car accident intertwines inextricably the lives of three perfect strangers. Octavio, a rebellious adolescent who is secretly in love with his sister-in-law, dreams of escaping his miserable life, and for this reason, he enters reluctantly the obscure world of dog fighting with his lethal dog Cofi. And then unexpectedly, Valeria, a stunning woman and famous supermodel, will cross paths with Octavio, while in the meantime, her pampered little dog Richie manages to vanish into thin air in the confined space of her apartment. Lastly, Chivo, an ex-guerrilla vagabond, after abandoning his little daughter, unable to make up for lost time, he channels his love to the city's strays and a mortally wounded Rottweiler. In the end, even though all the weary characters, men and beasts, wish for a bright future, in this life-changing journey in the pursuit of love, sometimes infidelity, sin and death can get in the way.

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Plot Keywords:

multiple storyline | dog | mexico city | multiple perspectives | nonlinear timeline | 

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Taglines:

Don't worry if you don't see this picture, you are going to LIVE IT anyway.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/gore, language and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Filmax (Spainish) [Spain]

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

13 April 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amores Perros

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$61,047, 1 April 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$5,383,834, 8 July 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Altavista Films, Zeta Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

154 min 115 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first cut was ten minutes longer and Alejandro González Iñárritu wasn't entirely happy with it. After sharing his doubts with a friend, this one proposed he should show him to the more experienced Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. After seeing it, Del Toro said to González Iñárritu that he should trim it a little bit, because he saw a great movie that could be a masterpiece, to which the director argued back. Del Toro then asked permission to make a shorter cut, which González Iñárritu granted. After seeing his friend's cut, the filmmaker agreed with him and made together the final 150 minutes cut.

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Goofs

The first time we see Valeria's 'Enchant' banner, her head is covering the 'C', but the next time that the banner is shown, her head is not covering the 'C' at all, then, the last time that we see the banner, the 'C' is completely covered by her head again.

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Quotes

[at the Supermarket]
Ramiro: Did you find everything you needed?
Octavio: I am just missing some condoms. I didn't find my size.

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Crazy Credits

To Luciano: Because we also are what we have lost. Special Thanks to: "Abba, Pater"

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Alternate Versions

The following are from the deleted scenes on the DVD:

• An alternate ending where the camera is outside the house where El Chivo was holding the two business partners hostage and two gunshots are heard.
• A comedic and tender scene between Daniel and Valeria which would have come shortly after Valeria returned from the hospital. Valeria wakes up Daniel in the middle of the night to help her get to the bathroom.
• A conversation between Daniel and Valeria in their apartment where Valeria reveals to the audience that she had an abortion.
• A brief scene where Octavio bursts into Susanna's mother's apartment searching for her.

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Connections

Referenced in Sardonicast: Sardonicast #08: The Last Jedi, Amores Perros (2018)

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Soundtracks

Pesada
By Fermin Caballero and Antonio Hernández
Performed by Control Machete

User Reviews

On Men And Dogs

This Mexican movie was surprisingly good. I confess the sin of prejudice concerning Mexican cinema, this being maybe the second Mexican film I have ever seen, but here my sins are punished. This is the work of a director of big talent. Hopefully, he will not be spoiled by the success.

Three different stories in today's Mexico mix with very few common elements. The characters belong to different social categories, and nothing connects them at first sight, excepting the feeling of un-happiness, and - yes - dogs. Dogs play an important role in all three stories. One more warning - there is a lot of cruelty including dog fights - this film is certainly not for sensitive animal lovers.

Directing is excellent, the stories are human and complex and despite their melodramatic or sometimes tragic outcome, they still leave you with a shade of hope - maybe because the humanity that the author uses to create his characters. There are so many memorable scenes, that I would commit another sin to pick any and describe it here - just rent, or go to watch this movie in the theater - it is worth all 150 or so minutes you will spend. 9/10 on my personal scale.