Director: Carlos Sorin
Screenplay: Santiago Calori, Salvador Roselli, Carlos Sorin
Starring: Juan Villegas, Gregorio, Walter Donado, Rosa Valsecchi, Mariela Díaz
Year: 2004
Language: Spanish
UK rental release: October 2005
We're pouncing over to the other side of the globe this week, lifting our paws out of Germany and bounding our way into the Americas with a lovely film from Carlos Sorin, Bombón: El Perro.
Unemployed
mechanic, Juan (Juan Villegas) is in hard times. At 52, he is struggling to get any more work, hunting around for a job at other petrol stations. He has no other choice but to sell knives
to the public to make ends meet. He handcrafts every handle in its own
unique way, but with cheap blades coming in from Brazil nobody
interested in his beautifully carved wares. His predicament means he is having to live with his daughter (Mariela Díaz), her partner and his grandchild.
Juan is a generous soul. He may have no finance to gift, but he shares his kindness to all those who cross his path. He helps a
damsel in distress en route to getting a new water pipe for his
daughter's sink. Checking over her broken down vehicle, he offers to tow
her 150 km back to her ranch. At the lady's abode, she and her mother are astounded by his kindness and he is offer him the chance to adopt one of the farm's animals. The Dogo Argentino dog, a bright white hound bred for hunting big game, is large and majestic beast, and he reluctantly accepts the offer.
The dog is huge, towering above him in the car on the way home. Called Lechien (which actually it isn't...he discovers later that it is, in fact, Bombón) he's stubborn and moody, commanding a daunting presence. And, on arriving home, he discovered that his daughter doesn't want the dog there.
A man sees him around with his new pet, impressed by his size, and offers him a few shifts on security at his warehouse. Not panning out as it should, he departs to visit the local bank, which provides a fruitful encounter. The manager
recognises the pedigree of Lechien and advises Juan to enter him in dog
shows, passing on a contact in the business.
Lechien's heritage is an advantage, opening the door to the recommended trainer, Walter (Walter Donado). This dog-crazy man has had some success in the past and offers his services. Walter is exuberant and passionate, a contrast to Juan. He is in awe of Lechien, and sees a great future in this new team.
In fact, everyone sees
Lechien as a commodity, but Juan looks into the dog's eyes
and sees more than just cash flow...he sees his soul.
This wonderful Argentinian indie picture by Carlos Sorin was made on a limited budget and had help with funding by the Instituto Nacional de Cine y ArtesAudiovisuales, or INCAA. Over the years, this organisation has helped numerous unknown pictures reach the Argentine market, and at times their assistance has helped promote some movies to a larger audience, a little like the film I'm talking about this week.
Even one a shoestring budget however, there's no disputing the evident class and dignity in this charming piece. Part of this is thanks to a heart-warming theme which is perfectly paired with this gentle, touching story and was composed by the director's son, Nicolas Sorin. Carlos works closely with all of his crew, but his strong relationship with his son helps to fuel methods to generate some of the music BEFORE the film is made. That way Carlos can listen to a partly crafted score while filming in order to generate mood.
This really works too, in the raw, intuitive sense that this film generates as you experience it. With the backdrop of Patagonia, we get to see rural side of this country's surroundings as opposed to the standard, tourist elements normally shown. You're there in an instant, swimming in both its barren and other-wordly beauty.
Yet a large part of the film's looks come down to the shooting techniques of our director and his Cinematographer and friend, Hugo Calace. Relying on close hand-held Steadicam shots, using multiple cameras with numerous takes, these methods feed into a recipe that provides us with some wholesome scenes. It arrives with a "feel of the real", which is kept throughout the entire picture, and is paired with free flowing dialogue that accentuates the natural, genuine vibe.
This also gives it a near docu-film feel, grounding the story and raising it's approachability. In particular, the competition scene is so "fly on the wall" in it's production: picking up brief expressions from audience members, partial shots of groomed dogs, ingested with the bustling sounds of howling pooches and their stressed out owners. You'll forget that this is a totally, manufactured production set and mistaking it for a real event - it's the signature piece of the film.
One key angle in the film's production to help endorse and generate a more indigenous vein is the decision to film lots of takes, and I mean loads! Taking a plethora of responses and perspectives, this allow for further character generation in the editing suite. This approach draws raw character traits and creates real human moments.
This achievement would not be possible without the correct means of casting. Carlos has placed non-professional actors in the roles in order to bring a natural
charm and, one can assume, the opportunity for these unknowns to shine. Juan Villegas actually not just the name of the character but of the actor too. In fact nearly all of the characters play their own name for further realism
Nothing gets more real than nature though.
Real name Gregorio (and listed in my
starring roles, as you can see), the casting of the dog as Bombón was genius. Personally, I've grown up with
Rottweilers and have had the fortune to know two dogs with such rich,
while different personalities (R.I.P. Gino & Brook). I've come to understand that canine
expressions have a real delicate manner about them, with just a pinch of
panache, and Gregorio has personality by the bowlful! Everything, from
gently patronising double-takes, to perplexed rousings, to joyous barks; this Dogo Argentino has natural charisma.
Normally animals steal the show, yet it's hard to takes your eyes off our lead. Juan Villegas is a
subtly expressive actor, with his eyes always telling a different story
to the rest of his features. It's a sad
face, with a perpetual smile. Yet, sometimes he lets both facets of his
expression influence each other when reacting to events around him, sometimes hiding his true feelings, while other times letting slip his inner pain. Such an enigmatic performance in its
compact and concise way illuminates the character from his first moment
on screen, right up to his very last.
His marvellous performance enthuses an interesting character, humbled by his plight and with an air of dignity about him. Maybe it's pride that centres him. Or is it the drive to survive that keeps him grounded? Through
Juan's loss of work, it rings true and strong in this current climate,
while thankfully reminding us that there are joys in this life between
the darkness that bring more wealth then money; joys that can save us
and bring hope.
He's also jolly
at points, especially when re-united with his old garage colleague.
Banter comes natural to him, laughing at his situation along with his
friend without a care in the world. This addresses the loneliness of the
character, who's apparently stronger in his resolve and manner when
with others. This helps to add more gravitas to the importance of him winning back his self-esteem through his new canine friend.
Sometimes,
companionship can be represented most purely when shown as the
instinctual relationship between a man and his giant dog. There's real warmth to this picture, and this is most realised in the relationship that grows between Juan and Lechien. And, this touching partnership feeds into one of the most uplifting and humorous re-unions you're likely to see
between any individuals, let alone between human and pet.
Peel back the
quirky humour and you'll reveal a melancholic tapestry. Nearly all the
characters that surround Juan are destitute, lost, torn or forced to
resilience. But the burdens of them all seem to draw to our modest hero. Yet, amidst the
lows that surround our lead, the film is enlightening in both the inner strength of Juan and a charming sweet, and strangely comical, ending
that will give you a grin like a prize winning mastiff!
Bombón: El Perro throws up themes of dignity, rejection and trying to find a place in this world against the odds. Beneath these themes, however, this buddy move with a difference (look out for a Top 10 coming soon!) effortlessly taps into your soul, not a grip, but with a hug. This calm, yet moving, picture is an easy, breeze-drifting film that you can melt into with ease.
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Alternatively, you could contact me directly about this film or my other reviews on pickoftheweek@filmbore.co.uk
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