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 #223 | Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 55 wins & 23 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:

Love. Betrayal. Death.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/gore, language and sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the main characters name is El Chivo and Chivo is the nickname of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, who later worked in several films directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. However, Lubezki didn't shiot this film.

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Goofs

When the industrial is murdered by El Chivo in the restaurant, peasants are seen walking in the street. One of them is a woman with sunglasses. That same woman appears at El Chivo's ex-wife's funeral.

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Quotes

Octavio: Come away with me.

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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

Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 2001 (2001)

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Soundtracks

Pesada
By Fermin Caballero and Antonio Hernández
Performed by Control Machete

User Reviews

Brilliant movie! One of the best this decade...

'Amores Perros' impressed the hell out of me. Three interrelated tales of the darker side of life in contemporary Mexico City, each one as fresh and as fascinating as the last. Each of the three stories are dark, disturbing and filled with humanity. Superbly acted all round, but especially noteworthy is the standout performance by Emilio Echevarria as El Chivo, a political dissident turned hitman, and if the charismatic Gael Garcia Bernal (Octavia, the lovesick dog fighter) isn't an international star in the making I'll eat my words. This brilliant movie shows up the mediocrity of most current Hollywood "product", and to my mind ranks with a small handful of movies made this decade ('Chopper', 'The Pledge', 'The Way Of The Gun') that are truly memorable and with genuine substance. This one is a winner and essential viewing for all movie lovers. A future classic.

Details

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

Gross USA:

$5,408,467

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,908,467

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