Anna Maylyn B.

Sabado 11-2389 APS104A Ameros Perros Reaction Paper

Mexico: Loyalty, Class, and Economy
Ameros Perros features three stories set in a Mexican society that is linked through a car
accident that would bring the lives of the characters together and the society deeper into perspective.
Life, Loyalty, and Economy were main elements present in the Film, for as the story progresses, the
relationship between the three becomes more and more intertwined as the distance between the
characters soon becomes non-existent. The first story involves the relationship between Octavio and
Susanna, with Susanna being the wife of Octavios brother Ramiro. In love with Susanna, Octavio
convinces her to run away with him and comes up with the money by competing in dog fights, only to
have the money stolen by Susanna for her husband. He continues his endeavour, until an argument
leaves him a victim of a terrible car accident. The second story involves the relationship between Daniel
and Valeria, Daniel being a successful magazine publisher and Valeria a model. Daniel had left his family
for Valeria, until an accident involving Octavio leaves Valeria in a wheelchair. Valeria had a pet dog
whose disappearance had strained the relationship between the two, worsened by another accident
wherein Valeria develops gangrene and loses her legs. The third and the last involves Chivo, a former
teacher who turned to guerrilla movements and was thus imprisoned for 20 years. Living his life both as
a bum and a fugitive, he strives to connect to his daughter, Maru, of her fathers existence she had yet
to know. Also an assassin, he had worked to claim his target when he was interrupted by the said
accident, leaving him both Octavios dog and money. He captures his intended victim and after
determining the relationship between the target and the mastermind, leaves the two to settle the
dispute themselves. He leaves the money to his daughter and disappears in the scene with Octavios dog
of whom he called Negro.
Loyalty is the central focus in such that its variation from the norm of morality and ethics lead to
the succeeding events in the Film. Octavios loyalty to his brother was lost with his infatuation for his
wife. Daniels loyalty to his wife was lost after he left her for Valeria, yet that loyalty for Valeria was lost
as well, after her losing everything. The concept of loyalty was lost with Chivo after he had left his family
to fight as well as with the issue regarding his target and the person who paid him to accomplish the
duty. It is also quite interesting how a symbol for loyalty was presented consistently in the film-in the
presence of the dogs.
Class and Economy provides the distinction between our characters, separating them in terms of
location and capacity for sustenance, only to be merged by the said accident. In comparison to Octavian
who had to work at dog-fights, Daniel was a publisher and Valeria was a model, both with disposable
income warranting their location of a high-class apartment. Chivo was a symbol of an outcast in society,
yet his actions proved how a person can redeem himself, and how a person cannot be determined by
society but by himself. A great example distinguishing this in the film is his love for dogs, and the many
canine he had cared for. Despite the massacre at the latter part of the film, Chivo still found it possible
to forgive, for, in comparison to the other characters, he had learned of the importance of loyalty and
discernment in the family and society. His love was the only true love in the film, the love of a father for
his chid. It also tells of the future of the said relationships, those born out of the lack of trust, image, and
selfishness will never last but will slowly consume itself.
The exit of Chivo at the end of the film justifies the entire logic of the three elements. Chivo had
nothing, economic-wise, he had lost the trust of his family, his life not that which was worth living, yet
he continued to, and did so for the purpose of being for others beside himself-his dogs and his daughter.
At the very end, it was the task of being human that remained - whether people could actually live
through their lives without losing themselves to the demands of society, other people, and even
themselves. It relates not only of the problems of the people in Mexico, but also a venue to relate to the
world a problem it shares, the lack of love.