Filhote

It is good to see a movie neither 'demonize' nor 'victimize' gay people. This is an extraordinary movie about everyday relationships of ordinary person , some of whom happen to be bears.

The characters in this film are flawed one way or another. But that's part of the charm: they all have their own problems like everyone else of us have and they are dealing with these problems like we all have to. Unlike many 'gay-themed' movies which focused on 'shock value', this movie is free from bitter or self-pity. It goes back to the basic friendship and family connection which is so brilliantly portrayed.

I adore the bubbly attitude the movie holds. When bad things happened,drugs, jail, disease, people in this movie just deal with the bad fortune the simplest way. no mess, no fuss.

It's clean and shinny , it's a breathe of fresh air from Europe.

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.

A movie who makes you cry, laugh and recognize yourself its a movie you should see. Tenderness, paternal feelings, and a show of the madrid bear scene are enough to make any one, regardless sexual orientation, understand some bits more of the world, and feel it like theirs.

The music its too fine, the bears are too handsome, director chooses not to avoid real issues in gay life, like sex, cruising, dark rooms, baths... But he does it like they are as usual as going to cinema, showing clearly that what we do in bed doesn't makes us better or worse.

The story or the movie its a story of feelings, between a father and his son, uncle and nephew who learn to be with each other, showing the world that raising a children its only love, not being a non sexual being. that first and foremost, trust, love, care and tenderness are the stuff a boy its raised on.

in few words, its my movie :)

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

BEAR CUB introduces many to the concept of the non-traditional gay male: the hairy and chunky variety. It also artfully presents real-life situations for the characters. The relationship between a 'bear' uncle and his young nephew is the main focus, but the film also embraces the concept of male to male relationships (sexual and otherwise), HIV, and extended families. It manages to do all this without becoming maudlin or overly busy. The storytelling aspects of BEAR CUB are sharply honed. The performances are also quite good, especially from the central figures. There is, however, a somewhat lethargic feeling to the proceedings as well. I'm not sure if it is the unremarkable scoring and editing, but the film feels every bit it's 100 minutes. The characters are sometimes painfully earnest and the tone tips towards the self-important a bit too often. Perhaps it was reading the 'Director's Message' about the film that predisposed me toward this view. Also, the pacing of the movie feels a bit too 'even keel' - lacking a sense of momentum to carry us through to the final credits. The DVD 'extra scenes' reveal a highly comic scene at the film's core that might have pepped things up a bit. Whether it was excised for length or sexual content is not made clear. For those who think of Smokey and Yogi at the mention of 'bears' this film will be a real eye-opener. For the bear community it is at least a step (or two) forward.