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ESSAYS, ARTICLES, AND THEORIES ABOUT CINEMA
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| Friday, May 2, 2008
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Amores Perros (2000) |
 Critcially acclaimed director and Mexican, Alejandro González Iñárritu has brought America, Mexico and other countries many superb films, but one that stands out is the film that brought him to fame. Amores Perros (2000), Iñárritu’s first feature is one of a kind. This film contains something that most cinemas fail to achieve, and that is heart. Everything in the film happens for a reason, either by reaction or accident, but definitely provoked intentionally. This is a landmark on human beings and the consequences following decisions made – whether good or bad. Despite all of the errors in the English translation from Spanish (which also contains much slang that Americans will fail to connect with due to a cultural and language barrier), the title Amores Perros indicates “love is a dog” or “love is a bitch” from the American phrasing. I am going to analyze the film by its title in reference to “love is a bitch,” because while it might be a misconception, it does tie into the film itself which is the main source of analyzing. In the film, three stories are told, and I am going to show how the disintegration of love is not only apparent, but a theme in each story.
In the beginning, there is a severe car accident (which appears more realistic than most American-made stunts) that ties three stories together. Told out of sequence, the first story is titled “Octavio y Susana.” Octavio is in love with Susana, but the only problem is Susana’s  marriage to Octavio’s brother, Ramiro. Susana is treated very poorly by Ramiro. Some might argue that he treats her like a “dog.” Octavio truly loves Susana, but Susana cannot pull herself away from Ramiro. After much torment, Susana finally decides to leave Ramiro and run off with Octavio, but at the last minute, she takes the money that Octavio has made for the two of them and leaves with Ramiro. This sense of tension is the first of example how “love’s a bitch.” On the way to the vet to have his dog examined from a stabbing at what he called the last fight, Octavio hits another car.
The car Octavio hits belongs to Valeria. In the world of fashion, Valeria is heavily known as a gorgeous supermodel. This begins the second story entitled, “Valeria y Daniel.” Valeria’s big career and enchanting appeal prompts a love  affair with the married Daniel. While Valeria suffers a broken leg from the accident, Daniel’s affection for her slowly fades. We see this in the symbolism of the enormous billboard of her across the street which he stares at constantly. This is the second case where “love’s a bitch” in the film. The tension where Daniel’s love with the image of Valeria and not the real person comes full circle when he fails to protect her after the accident. Valeria’s love for modeling dies when she realizes the process of being famous one day and a stranger the next. This in another context can be comprehended as a shot to the Hollywood system as an entity.
Back at the accident, with both cars and drivers needing dire aid, it is a beaten-down old college professor/hitman who comes to help. He acquires Octavio’s dog, Cofi, which he nurses back to health. This begins the final story “El Chivo y Maru.” After taking Cofi in, El Chivo tries reconnecting with his abandoned daughter, Maru.  El Chivo is not completely a bum, although his lifestyle is of a hermit-like atmosphere. He also makes ends meat by killing people for a living. El Chivo comes home one day to find all the other dogs he has taken in as well dead. Among the pile of flesh is a blood-soaked Cofi. In a reaction brought on by a rush of anger, El Chivo puts a gun to Cofi, but cannot pull the trigger. In this wonderfully crafted scene filled with vast emotions represented cinematically, El Chivo realizes that Cofi and he are the same. Both he and the dog have been trained to kill. Nature has taken its course and nothing could have prevented the deaths they cause. Thus concluding the final reason in the film how “love’s a bitch.”
None of the stories end with a happy conclusion. All the stories show how love is flawed. After the accident, Octavio waits for Susana at the bus station and she fails to show, Daniel leaves Valeria and she is left alone, and El Chivo does not reconnect with his daughter in person. All of these downfalls show how in their circumstances love is possibly missing. Susana does not love Octavio, Daniel does not love Valeria, and Maru does not love El Chivo. It is truly sad, but it shows the cruelness of reality. This film breaks everything Hollywood represents, but also concludes the film with the main characters not having met their goals. This is truly great, because it shows how in reality, goals are not always met at a conclusion, but also conclusions themselves sometimes do not exist. In many circumstances the ending can serve as the beginning. And all of this was sparked by a single event – the car accident. Yes, sometimes life just leaves people wandering in search for meaning, just like El Chivo by the end of the film wandering through the desert. |
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posted by Will Lewis 7:32 AM
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شركة درة البيت
شركة تعقيم في دبي
شركة تعقيم في الشارقة
شركة تعقيم في راس الخيمة