Cachorro (2004)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Miguel Albaladejo

Writers:

Miguel Albaladejo (writer)
Salvador García Ruiz (writer)

Release Date:

27 February 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Parenthood is about to get a little hairer

Plot:

Pedro, a gay man with an active social life and big circle of friends, takes in his nephew Bernardo for a couple weeks...

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Gay Interest | Precocious Child | Gay Latino | Dead Father

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

José Luis García Pérez	...	Pedro
David Castillo	...	Bernardo
Empar Ferrer	...	Doña Teresa
Elvira Lindo	...	Violeta
Arno Chevrier	...	Manuel
Mario Arias	...	Javi
Josele Román	...	Gloria
Diana Cerezo	...	Lola
Daniel Llobregat	...	Bernardo, 14 Years Old
Juanma Lara	...	Aitor
Jorge Calvo	...	Antonio
Josep Tomàs	...	Juan Carlos
Juanjo Martínez	...	Iván
Ramón Ramos	...	Ricardo
Patxi Uribarren	...	Quique
Isidro Olmo	...	Ginés
Fernando Albizu	...	Waldo
Javier Martínez	...	Olmo
Pep Morell	...	Jorge
Alfonso Torregrosa	...	Abogado
Fernando Tejero	...	Macarrilla
Roberto Hernández	...	Tio joven
Félix Álvarez	...	Dani
Cali Caballero	...	Borja
Jorge Alcázar	...	Camarero
Montserrat Alcoverro	...	Palmira
César Díaz	...	Hombre del Bigote (Detective)
Melanie Beleña	...	Ayudante Dentista
Ana Albaladejo	...	Profesora Joven
Felipe Albaladejo	...	Manager
Paco Luna	...	Ejecutivo Aereopuerto
Daniel Heras	...	Taxista
Herminia Mendoza	...	Profesora
Manuel Crespo	...	Dependiente
Lucía González	...	Amiga de Bernardo
Adrián Deacal	...	Amigo de Bernardo
Elena Jiménez	...	Amiga 14 años
Juan Ramón Deacal	...	Amigo 14 años
Umesh	...	Funcionario

Directed by
Miguel Albaladejo

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Miguel Albaladejo		writer
Salvador García Ruiz		writer

Produced by
Juan Alexander	....	producer
José L. García Arrojo	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Lucio Godoy

Cinematography by
Alfonso Sanz

Film Editing by
Pablo Blanco

Casting by
Amado Cruz

Production Management
Nerea Orce	....	production leader
Alicia Yubero	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rafael Carmona	....	first assistant director
Eva Sánchez	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Sergio Bürmann	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jaime Fernández	....	sound re-recording mixer
Patrick Ghislain	....	foley mixer
Pelayo Gutiérrez	....	sound editor
Julien Martin	....	assistant sound
Antonio Mejias	....	cable person
Óscar Segovia	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Javier Mosqueda	....	telecine colorist
Pablo Urrutia	....	visual effects

Camera and Electrical Department
César Hernando	....	camera operator: second unit
Isabel Seco Velasco	....	video assistant

Editorial Department
Pablo Blanco Guzmán	....	assistant editor
Álvaro García	....	assistant editor
Rosa Sogorb	....	chief of post-production
Luis M. Trouillhet	....	post-production assistant

Other crew
Antonio Bazaga	....	production coordinator
David Chagoyen	....	production assistant
Susana de la Mata	....	production assistant
Nathalie Martinez	....	assistant to director
Rosana Ruiz	....	production coordinator
Gemma Santatecla	....	script supervisor
Patricia Vila	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Hispanocine Producciones Cinematográficas S.L.
• Star Line TV Productions S.L.

Distributors

• Cinemien (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (Spain) (theatrical)
• TLA Releasing (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Bear Cub (USA) (festival title)
Bearcub (Australia) (cable TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

Spain:100 min | USA:99 min | Argentina:100 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Spain

Language:

French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Spain:18 | Chile:14 | Australia:R | Brazil:18

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Company:

Hispanocine Producciones Cinematográficas S.L.

Trivia:

The Spanish title "Cachorro" literally translates as "puppy", "pup" or "cub".

Quotes:

Bernardo: I don't want to leave you alone.
Pedro: Don't worry about me.

Movie Connections:

References The Jungle Book (1967)

Soundtrack:

Me odio cuando miento

Getting it Right: A Healthy Look at Gay Life from Spain

BEAR CUB (CACHORRO) is a delight! This joyous film has the wisdom (and courage, if US standards are applied!) to open the doors and windows depicting a segment of the gay population who are healthy in attitude, in lasting relationships and friendships, and who don't swerve from addressing issues such as AIDS, single parenting, recreational dalliances, the dangers of drugs, and the importance of family. It is honest in dialogue, in casting, and in demonstrating that all people are subjected to the same ups and downs, no matter their sexual proclivity.

Pedro (José Luis García Pérez) is a successful dentist, a warmly human man who is surrounded by caring friends - primarily men who call themselves 'bears', a subunit of the gay population identified by hairy faces and bodies, stout husky physiques instead of the usual gay image of the perfectly carved gym body, and a live-and-let-live philosophy of upfront honesty, warmth and caring for their extended families. Pedro is openly gay, a fact that his widowed sister Violeta (Elvira Lindo) and her 9-year old son Bernardo (David Castillo) happily accept. When Violeta and her current paramour Borja (Cali Caballero) decide to vacation in India, Bernardo is left with Pedro for the promised two week stay.

During their time together Pedro and Bernardo bond, Bernardo is introduced to Pedro's friends and is entirely comfortable by the healthy relationships he sees. Pedro is not partnered (his lover Eduardo died...) but he dates openly with Bernardo's knowledge. When Pedro is in his Dental Office, baby sitter Lola (Diana Cerezo) introduces Bernardo to go-go and other parts of the world outside and becomes a happy trio with the two males. News comes that Violeta and Borja have been arrested in India for drug trafficking, changing the two-week vacation into a time indefinite absence. Pedro and Bernardo adjust.

Things take a turn when Bernardo's estranged grandmother Doña Teresa (Empar Ferrer) enters the scene, haughty, disapproving of Bernardo's living situation, and taking advantage of the absence of her hated daughter-in-law to attempt to gain custody of Bernardo, 'the only thing I have left in life.' Due to some unfortunate twists of behavior and fate, Doña Teresa gains evidence to blackmail Pedro, not only because of his sexual outings photographed by her investigator, but because she discovers Pedro is HIV positive. In her attempts to denounce Pedro we discover the Bernardo already knows of his uncle's HIV status (as well as Violeta's) and Bernardo pleads with Pedro not to let Doña Teresa take him away. A compromise is reached and Bernardo is sent off to a coed school in Valencia.

How all of these twists and turns resolve constitutes the surprising ending of this excellent film: each of the characters is shown to be wholly three-dimensional, even Doña Teresa, and the overriding importance of family and compassion and love rules the day. The ending is open ended, allowing the viewer to select the way to conclude the story.

Director and co-writer (with Salvador García Ruiz) Miguel Albaladejo is a master at finding the core of truth in each of his characters, their individual life styles, and the unfettered joy of living uncompromised lives. The cast is extraordinary: José Luis García Pérez is a natural actor, David Castillo is completely believable as Bernardo, and the remainder of the cast is outstanding. The original music by Nacho Canut and Olvido Gara is so in keeping with the tone of the film. Yes, there are some consensual sex scenes in this film, but they are treated with respect and decorum and without them the flavor of the film would be lacking. This is a refreshing film about the sanctity of love - and it just happens to be populated with one of the most lovable gay groups ever created! Highly recommended.

Grady Harp