Animals (2012)

Pol is a teenager with a seemingly calm life. He lives with his brother, and is still in high school. However, Pol has a secret: Deerhoof, a cuddly teddy bear who thinks, moves around, and ... See full summary »

Director:

Marçal Forés

Writers:

Marçal Forés, Enric Pardo

Stars:

Oriol Pla, Augustus Prew, Dimitri Leonidas

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Oriol Pla	...	Pol
Augustus Prew	...	Ikari
Dimitri Leonidas	...	Mark
Roser Tapias	...	Laia
Javier Beltrán	...	Llorenç
Martin Freeman	...	Albert
Maria Rodríguez Soto	...	Clara (as Maria Rodríguez)
Katia Klein	...	Silvia
Mia Lacostena	...	Sara (as Emma Lacostena)
Anaïs López	...	Mar
Alba Ribas	...	Laura
Paula Malia	...	Mar
Pep Jové	...	Inspector
Brian Brennan	...	Director
Iñaki Martínez	...	John

Storyline

Pol is a teenager with a seemingly calm life. He lives with his brother, and is still in high school. However, Pol has a secret: Deerhoof, a cuddly teddy bear who thinks, moves around, and with whom he shares his best moments. Life goes on as normal until the arrival of Ikari, an enigmatic student who seems to be hiding something. Pol is fascinated by his new classmate and attracted to the dark side he harbors. An inexplicable death and a series of strange events will transform the meek student's routine into a fantastic adventure, which will take over their lives.

---

Plot Keywords:

gay best friend | high school | teddy bear | self mutilation | gay brother | 

---

Taglines:

A story about love, despair, and the pains of being pure at heart.

---

Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Catalan English

Release Date:

26 October 2012 (Spain)

Filming Locations:

Sant Llorenç de Morunys, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC), Escándalo Films, ICF Institut Català de Finances

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

No hay diversión sin presión
Written by Miguel Sadaba Garrazo
Performed by Incrucificables

User Reviews

This teenager's divergence from his budding sexuality is remarkable

This evening, I had the pleasure of viewing Marçal Forés' film 'Animals'. It was a small affair, well off Austin's beaten track but what a spectacular introduction to Polari (formerly AGLIFF – Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival). Introduced as one of the fest's darker offerings and having seen a tense little trailer that leaned toward the surreal, I was all set for a wanna-be horror film with some fantastic visuals and very little substance. About the visuals, I was spot on. Shot in a small, affluent community in Northern Spain, there is a dusky beauty to the image and a dreamy tone but the surreal is treated with such matter-of-fact confidence that I was reminded of the iconic Chris Cunningham. Concerning substance, 'Animals' engages with a uncanny sense of emotional logic expressed through a young man's (Oriol Pla) emotional attachment to his childhood teddy bear – who happens to talk (in HAL-like monotone) and walk about of its own accord. If this sounds a bit like the movie 'Ted', you're way off the mark. This isn't heady art – there's still a sense of humor throughout – but the angle the filmmakers have taken to express this teenager's divergence from his budding sexuality is remarkable. The only point of reference I could give would be 'Donnie Darko', but 'Animals' isn't nearly as indulgent of Science Fiction or fantasy. Of 'Gay Cinema', let me just say that there are good films and there are bad films and the sexual orientation of the filmmakers, cast, and crew is insubstantial to me. 'Animals' is a profoundly good film and I hope if finds an audience when it's released on DVD in November.