AMORES PERROS

2001

This Mexican film, by first time director Alejandro Inarritu, is a multi-storied, multi-layered "Pulp-Fiction"-like film, that tells the story of a car accident (and everyone connected with it,) in a "Rashomon"-like way...that is, we get to see the accident several times from different perspectives (as well as seeing many events leading up to the accident.) The theme running through this 2 1/2 hour bloody and violent story, is mans inhumanity to man...and dogs! Dogs fighting to the death as spectators bet on them, is an underlying text, underscoring the brutality of life at all levels in modern-day Mexico City. No one is spared and everyone is rotten, in one way or another. If you love dogs and hate the sight of blood, please stay away from this incredible, jig-saw puzzle of a film. Just getting all of the pieces to fit together (as they do) by the end of the film, was a feat of great writing and directing. NOTE- In spite of the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie, I still can't believe that "no dogs were hurt during the making of this film."

5 Stars

NJB