Cachorro

It appears to be a trend in the cinema by presenting the "bear" gay subculture. We already saw it in John Waters' "Dirty Shame" in the summer, although it's not the main idea of that picture. Of course, the John Waters' movie has nothing to do with Luis Miguel Albaladejo's superior film where we are presented with the Spanish version of this sub group of the gay culture where overweight men, usually hairy and cuddly tend to get together in bars, or other places where they can feel comfortable with one another.

In a way, it's a refreshing way to watch a film like this one that deals with that type of individuals, as they are presented leading normal lives without any hangups or other moral problems. In fact, the dialog is quite explicit as the people in the movie are not ashamed of their sexual preference and even those that aren't gay, keep an open mind about what is going on with Pedro, the man at the center of the story.

We get to know Pedro and his circle of friends. They all are normal people and well adjusted. Pedro is a loving man facing the dilemma of being a role model for his nephew, who has come into his life quite suddenly and without warning. Bernardo, the young boy, is wiser for his years as we get to know him better. This youngster, while being curious about his uncle's love life, is never a brat, as he takes everything in stride.

The film is a lot of fun for those that will watch it with open eyes. They will be rewarded to a fun time with a touch of reality at the end.

This is a great little movie. I was pleasantly surprised that it avoided falling into predictability and that it kept the characters, including the prudish grandmother, three-dimensional. In some ways, her character is the most interesting--like Violeta and Pedro, we want to hate her, but ultimately she turns out to be neither truly "evil" nor fully irredeemable--but nothing in the plot forces us to come around to liking her, either. I appreciated the fact that the movie's gay characters are bears, and that this is largely unremarkable.

Other reviewers commented on the frank sex scenes. These appear to have been cut from the movie in commercial release--and the cuts were especially noticeable and choppy. They rendered at least a couple of scenes pointless. There is a little bit of irony in sitting in a theatre near the West Village, in an audience that was probably 90% gay men, watching a movie that focuses on a (very) sexually active gay man, yet finding myself "protected" from witnessing the movie's sex scenes.

For instance, the opening scene, which I understand from reading reviews and comments is fairly explicit, simply opens with three men in bed together, and Pedro telling the other two to hurry up because family is coming. The bathhouse scene shows Pedro and another man walking off together, and then a very choppy edit finds us at the next scene. We do see some kissing and fully-clothed groping, and Pedro and his friend from Paris rolling around in bed and later waking up and cuddling. I don't have a particular need to see erect penises (at least, not in movies), but I have no idea what else I might have missed with the editing out of these scenes. And, of course, more to the point, these are (or were) part of the movie, whether they make some people uncomfortable or not.

I don't know--perhaps these cuts may have been a necessary compromise to put the film in commercial release, but it still sucks (so to speak). I guess I'll have to wait for the release of the DVD to see the film in unexpurgated form. (And maybe it'll include some cool outtakes, too?--no, just kidding).

if been waiting for years for a movie like this. it`s got comedy, it`s got tragedy, it`s showing real life and it all comes together in a movie fun, entertaining, educational and filled with love to detail.

you will laugh, you will cry and most important - you will think about what you`ve seen and heared.

i recognised myself a lot in this movies or saw "friend-alikes".

congratulations !

cant wait to buy the DVD and watch it again !

and know what !? - the child is the real star of this movie, knowing live better then the grownups.

some dialogs are born to be cult (example: the very last sceen of the movie)

"Bear Cub" (Cachorro) has been shown at several film festivals since it was first released in its native Spain in early 2004. I saw the movie on Opening Night at the ImageOut Film Festival in Rochester, NY. The near-capacity crowd was very receptive to the film.

The story, about a gay man who finds himself taking care of his young nephew for an unexpectedly extended period, has been done before in different variations ("About a Boy", "Three Men and a Baby", television's Bachelor Father, etc.). Compared with other movies, "Bear Cub" stands out by not compromising the depiction of the main character's social life especially with the explicit and what will be a very controversial opening sequence. (Note: the opening scenes and a few other scenes were edited for general release in the U.S. I saw the unedited version at the film festival I attended.)

I'm happy of the decision by co-writer/director Miguel Abaladejo (with co-writer Salvador García Ruiz) to present to the moviegoers a subculture of the gay population called Bears. It might open a few people's minds. Pedro, the lead character (well-played by José Luis García Pérez) and his circle of friends do not fit the dominant depiction of what gay men look like especially in movies: bearded and husky.

Another thing that impressed me was the performance of David Castillo. He plays Bernardo, the precocious nephew who is mature way beyond his years but, in one of the many plot twists that propel the film, there are reasons why he is that way.

I almost forgot to mention how funny and touching this film is. Bear Cub is a very well-balanced dramedy. The comedy comes out of the unusual familial situation and when complications arise in the guise of Bernardo's estranged paternal grandmother Doña Teresa (Empar Ferrer), it made for a very compelling drama.

The decision to change the aspect of the movie from just observing the characters to having some of the characters talk to the camera in the final 20 minutes was not a good idea. Despite that flaw, I found Bear Cub to be a timely, well-performed and memorable film.

P.S.: I would bet a few dollars that a production company in Hollywood would be too cowardly to remake a film like this much less buy the rights to make the movie. The movie's honest depiction of a man having a social gay life without making value judgments might be too much for some viewers or, for that matter, some members of the Hollywood community to tolerate.

A great movie. Showing a man who is a bear and his everyday life. Touches on many issues but does not wrap everything up, which is great. Lets you think rather than be spoon fed. The issues include HIV, family, gay life and love. It will make you think about relationship and love as well as how we live our everyday lives. Sex is also a big topic of this film. How it fits into and what in means in life.

This film has a lot of heart, is fun and well worth a look.

One of those films you can watch again and again and get more out of it because it is so rich with humanity. The characters are full and interesting. The storyline moves along very nicely taking you places which are surprising.