Amores Perros
An exclusive qvInterview with the cast and director of the Oscar nominated film "Amores Perros"
By Luther Orrick Guzman

"Amores Perros" is a one of a kind film that tells the intense story of three characters whose lives collide in a Mexico City car crash. The film's unique style and ambitious approach can't easily be described in print-it's a film that you have to see for yourself. The film, which opened in the U.S. on April 13, 2001, has already earned a slew of awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film.

THE DOG FIGHTER
Gael Garcia Bernal is the young, handsome, and talented actor who plays Octavio, a teenager who discovers that he can make a lot of money using his rotweiler dog to fight in underground dogfights. His character also must deal with his attraction to his older brother's wife.

Bernal tells qvMagazine that the worldwide recognition is exciting. "It is a big thing," he says. "I'm happy it is such a culturally and commercially successful film-to know that so many people are seeing it and are moved. Even more so, to know that it might have changed something within them after seeing it, that's my biggest satisfaction."

Because of the success of the film, Bernal cannot walk the streets in Mexico unrecognized, "It's very nice. People approach me and tell me about their experience regarding the film. They tell me how they felt and reacted. I appreciate that so much."

The movie marks Bernal's first film role, and while he says that making the film was tough, it was completely enriching and he's looking forward to future projects.

He adds, "I'm now working on several films. I'm really confident that Mexico will continue to produce great stories, and that in the near future, we will have a more developed modern film culture."

THE SUPERMODEL
Another of the film's big stars is Goya Toledo who plays Valeria, a supermodel who is left in a wheelchair from the car crash. Valeria is involved with a married man, but that relationship turns sour after the car accident.

Toledo found making the film quite intense. She explains, "One particularly intense scene for me was where the couple (she and her man) has a very heated argument and say severely damaging words to each other. It left me feeling very bad. I'd never played a scene like that."

"I like to play roles that are challenging," she continues. "To work with directors with an edge like Alejandro (Iñiarritu) is amazing. He was very involved with all the actors."

She, furthermore, adds, "The film is so real. I know people who can't watch the film because they've been in a bad car accident. The intensity is too much for them to handle."

Toledo, finally, comments, "This film has brought me a great deal of satisfaction. I've grown a great deal as a result of it."

THE FIRST-TIME DIRECTOR
It may be hard to believe, but "Amores Perros" is the directorial debut for Iñiarritu, and he is thrilled about the response to it. He says, "I'm very happy to hear that we've been the most awarded film this year, internationally. It makes me feel very proud."

Making "Amores Perros" required a lot of vision and hard work. "It was a difficult film to make," says Iñiarritu.

"The car crash scene was probably the most difficult considering it was done one time with nine cameras. It was very risky for the stuntperson and all the people who surrounded the scene."
While the car crash scene might have been difficult to produce, it was the emotional scenes that really affected the director. Iñiarritu says, "The heaviest scene for me was in the tale of 'El Chivo' played by Emilio Echevarría." The story of "El Chivo" has to do with a revolutionary turned assassin. He lives disguised as a homeless man pushing shopping carts and collecting items from the trash. There is a turning point in El Chivo's life where after being in jail and leaving a daughter behind who believes he's dead, makes him change his outlook on life, for the better.

So what's next for director Iñiarritu? Currently, he is reading two scripts. He says, "Who knows which one I'll end up doing, but I want it to be a film of human relations. I like stories that confront characters and allow viewers to explore and discover the complexity and paradox of living. To show how decisions affect circumstance or vice versa. One of the projects I'm working on will revolve around the topic of fault and forgiveness. It's still being developed."

For more on "Amores Perros", visit the official website at http://www.amoresperros.com/