El Perro
This is a lovely, simple film from Argentina. It is directed by Carlos Sorin with great care from a screenplay written by Santiago Calori and Salvador Roselli.
Juan Villegas, who is also known as Coco (and is played by an actor named Juan Villegas) has just lost his job of 20 years. He worked at a gas station (that has just been sold) out in the Patagonia region. He tries to eke out a living by selling hand-made knives and doing odd jobs. He lives with his daughter, her husband and her children but he is not very happy about it. One day he helps a young woman who is having trouble with her car. To thank him for his good deed her mother invites Coco to tea and gives him a beautiful white dog named Bonbon (also known as La Chien). Bonbon is from a very good blood line and although he looks ferocious he is as sweet as can be.
Things start picking up for Coco. His daughter wants no part of the dog but he gets an offer to work as a security guard (with Bonbon). However, after a few hours he decides that is not for him. On his way to the bank he meets an executive that is very impressed with Bonbon. The executive gives Coco the contact information for a dog trainer named Walter Donado (also played by an actor with the same name). Walter has a lot of experience with dogs and before you can bark he enters Bonbon in a contest. Bonbon wins a prize and there is a great celebration that night. There are other things that happen but I don't want to give away any more of the plot.
It is to Sorin's credit that he cast these two men in their roles. They are perfect. Donado is boisterous and loud but his heart is in the right place. And Coco has such a kind face that you are just hoping that no one will take advantage of him. You can see from his expression just how much this lonely man loves his canine companion. Another person in the film that I like is Susana (Rosa Valsecchi) who is a dancer in a nightclub. She radiates a great deal of warmth and compassion. But my favorite character is Bonbon (played to perfection by a handsome hound named Gregorio) who is as wonderful as can be.
This is a small film and it is only playing at one theater in New York City. But I hope that people who are not able to see it on the big screen will see it when it comes out on DVD. It is a very worthwhile film and gives one relief from all of the trash that Hollywood is putting out these days.
Juan Villegas, who is also known as Coco (and is played by an actor named Juan Villegas) has just lost his job of 20 years. He worked at a gas station (that has just been sold) out in the Patagonia region. He tries to eke out a living by selling hand-made knives and doing odd jobs. He lives with his daughter, her husband and her children but he is not very happy about it. One day he helps a young woman who is having trouble with her car. To thank him for his good deed her mother invites Coco to tea and gives him a beautiful white dog named Bonbon (also known as La Chien). Bonbon is from a very good blood line and although he looks ferocious he is as sweet as can be.
Things start picking up for Coco. His daughter wants no part of the dog but he gets an offer to work as a security guard (with Bonbon). However, after a few hours he decides that is not for him. On his way to the bank he meets an executive that is very impressed with Bonbon. The executive gives Coco the contact information for a dog trainer named Walter Donado (also played by an actor with the same name). Walter has a lot of experience with dogs and before you can bark he enters Bonbon in a contest. Bonbon wins a prize and there is a great celebration that night. There are other things that happen but I don't want to give away any more of the plot.
It is to Sorin's credit that he cast these two men in their roles. They are perfect. Donado is boisterous and loud but his heart is in the right place. And Coco has such a kind face that you are just hoping that no one will take advantage of him. You can see from his expression just how much this lonely man loves his canine companion. Another person in the film that I like is Susana (Rosa Valsecchi) who is a dancer in a nightclub. She radiates a great deal of warmth and compassion. But my favorite character is Bonbon (played to perfection by a handsome hound named Gregorio) who is as wonderful as can be.
This is a small film and it is only playing at one theater in New York City. But I hope that people who are not able to see it on the big screen will see it when it comes out on DVD. It is a very worthwhile film and gives one relief from all of the trash that Hollywood is putting out these days.
posted by Film Fanatic | 2:40 PM
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