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El perro (2004) More at IMDbPro »

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24 comments in total

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31 out of 33 people found the following comment useful :-
Very Enjoyable, 23 June 2005

Author: Andrew Sharp from United Kingdom

Released in the UK with the title of Bombón (El Perro), this is a lovely little movie. Although life is hard, the characters in the story show that love, joy and friendship can be found - often in the most unexpected places. Contrary to my expectations, it was not a simple tale of "man meets dog and together they form an inseparable bond that brings them through many hardships" but rather a more subtle and involved tale that gave you deeper insight into the life of the main character Coco Villegas. Although lacking Hollywood attention grabbers, the film keeps you constantly engaged and finishes with a twist that helps you leave with a smile.

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31 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
The story of a "simple mechanic", 4 July 2005

Author: simon_acors from London

A captivating story told in a subtle naturalistic cinematic style. A largely novice cast give fine performances. Special mention should be made of Juan Villegas' portrayal of the main character 'Coco'; a good-hearted and modest ex-gas-station attendant who is vainly looking for work doing "simple mechanics". Coco's journey is engrossing and leads the viewer in an understated manner through the social landscapes of unemployment, poverty and inequality to the quaint world of dog exhibiting, whilst all the time the natural and industrial landscapes of Patagonia (beautifully filmed by Hugo Colace) serve to provide a sometimes bleak and sometimes beautiful visual canvas.

The characters he meets, from the boastful dog-trainer to the empathetic restaurant-singer, are finely drawn and are often contrasted against Coco's simplicity and naivity. Unlike some I didn't find the ending a disappointment - I'd say that it proved a fitting climax.

This gem of a film has many facets. As a foreign viewer I found wit, pathos and charm aplenty. I found a world that was believable, at turns hauntingly sad and others full of kindness and hope; characters that I cared about and whose story I wanted to follow.

And then of course there is Bombon! a dog of impeccable pedigree who fills the screen (literally) and who is the catalyst in Coco's life... he should be the canine manifestation of Latin American machismo but he has an effeminate name and questionable libido...

Fine score by Nicolas Sorin - beautiful and never irritating or obtrusive. Worth viewing on the big screen but if you don't then definitely get hold of this film on DVD.

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31 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
well made, 22 May 2005

Author: ipy from Serbia and Montenegro

What a movie! This is one of the movies that gives you a feeling like you've met the lead actor, like you've known him for all your life. A kind of film that in all its simplicity shows the magic of life transported on the movie canvas. Staring with the fact that during the movie you can't stop thinking "where in the hell did he found the lead actor (Juan Villegas),he must be a actor-legend in Argentina" and then you find out that man used to park the director's (Carlos Sorin) car for 5 years before he put him on film. It doesn't end here, it's that none of the actors in film are professional actors, so to speak. An art it self is getting that maximum out them and he did. Pure emotions on movie canvas, a master-piece in a small life story.

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28 out of 33 people found the following comment useful :-
another Argentina, 27 September 2004
Author: tomgrau (tomgrau@yahoo.com) from argentina

Sorin has managed to show an Argentina which not many Argentinians are used to see in film. With "El perro" and "Historias minimas" he surprises the audience with the complete absence of surprises. The beautifully portrayed characters in this movie are so simple that you cannot feel nothing but thankful for being able to share a part of their life. This could be seen as another of the stories Sorin showed us in "historias mínimas", but this one is maybe even more simple and it is that simplicity which makes this movie so great. It is also a great lesson for us Argentinias that are always waiting for someone who will take advantage of the main character........that is the biggest surprise this film has waiting for us.

Tomm

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20 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
Coco and his dog, 23 April 2005

Author: aaydede from Turkey

I wasn't expecting a lot form this movie when I first bought the ticket. However the story of the mechanic whose life changed after owning a very special breed of dog turned out to be rather interesting one. The main character Coco needs to be commended for his astonishing work. His facial expressions in almost every single shot carried out some aspect of his character's naive nature. Even though the story doesn't end with a very striking ending, it can't be considered as a slowly paced one. The shot with the machines and Coco's car, where Coco is riding in the fields of the factory is a very good one indeed. Other than that, the technical aspects such as the color and the sound add a lot to the movie's close to real atmosphere.

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15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
it could be real, 22 March 2006

Author: joel-387 from Sweden

There are where you look forward to find a hero, but watching this film you will find your self immerse in the hard realty of someone else. This is a very simple movie, and absolutely realistic. I am Argentinean I have lived several years in Patagonia (where the movie goes on). Eveithing that you see, that hostile but amusing context is there. This is a movie about a guy, 52 years old, in the middle of a crisis. He discover that there is no much place in this new "dinamic" world, since he don't have education (hardly he can read). He is very longly, even if he lives with his daughter. In this moment is when Sorin mange to show again something real. Coco (the MAN) assist a woman with a broken car in the route, and tow her car 150 km and then fix it without desire compensation. Well, I have read comments of people that find this extremely rare...my friends, that happened to me too...my car broke and and actually people stopped to help!! Well, this people that Coco help gives him a present. A dog. No any dog, a "Dogo Argentino". it is like "The" Argentinean dog. Perhaps the most remarkable "hability" of this dog is the loyalty. The film keeps going, and Coco find him self in a lot of new situations because of the dog. Well, you will become immerse in a adventure. In the world of coco. It is a very simple movie, excellent job. Doesn't need anything else.

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14 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
A Gentle, well shot and entertaining Argentinian film, 3 October 2005
Author: tresdodge from London

Coco, an unemployed 52 year old mechanic,lives with his daughter in her small, chaotic family home. Poor and unable to find a job he spends his time selling knives whose handles he has specially crafted. One day he stops to help a woman whose car has broken down by towing her 150 km to her parents home. Here he fixes her car and as payment he is given a large but rather beautiful dog called Bombom by her mother. From here Coco's life changes as he meets Walter Donado who trains him to be a dog handler with the belief that Bombom will win them lots of prizes at dog shows.

A really pleasant way to spend a Monday evening. I was astonished at the acting ability of this inexperienced group, especially the lead Juan Villegas whose kindly face was quite captivating. The story was simple, effective, humorous and kept me intrigued throughout. The Argentinan landscape was a pleasant, if at times bleak, one.

I really enjoyed this film experience and highly recommend it to others.

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12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
fine Argentine film about a dog, an out of work mechanic and libido issues, 25 September 2005

Author: Martin Togher from London, England

A beautifully made film about a down on his luck out of work mechanic (who specialised in "simple mechanics") and a pedigree dog he is given after rescuing a woman who had broken down 150k from home. Her mother decides to give him a pedigree dog left to her by her husband, despite being broke, the man accepts the gift and then has to work out how he can support himself and the dog

Set in Patagonia, the film focuses on the man, the dog, and both of their libidos - neither seem at all interested in sex (the man hasn't seen his wife in 20 years) together they set off on an adventure, or sorts, involving dog shows, a drunken dog exhibitor, stud fees, and a cabaret singer.

funny and touching in parts, well worth checking out.

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15 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
so simple, so damn good!, 19 July 2005

Author: Nzup from Ireland

In the times of McHollywood and all the crap, it is good to know that we still have this kind of movies.

Time is what Juan, the lead actor in the movie, has the most and he uses that time to desperately find a steadier job and occasionally sells hand made knives nobody can afford. The simplicity of "Bombon, el perro" will captivate you. While following the lead actor during his search fornew life opportunities the film never misses an occasion to show thesocial situation in the country, Argentina, with both seriousness and humor.

The main actor gives us a savagely good performance in this film. His body language and mimic, his talk, a great pleasure!

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13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
one man and his dog..., 28 June 2005

Author: skiddo from United Kingdom

what a lovely, lovely film.

bleak and beautiful, desperate and hopeful.

i personally have a real problem watching movies that have dogs as main characters... my empathy is totally with the dog - i can rarely care less what happens to the people as long as nothing bad happens to the dog. quite a turn up then when i find myself desperately rooting for coco, bombom's new owner, lost in his new world of dog showing, naive and ripe for the picking...

brilliant movie, go see it, go buy it. don't wait for the nicholson and hooch Hollywood remake!

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