The FIPRESCI jury gave their nod to my own personal favorite, "Bombon El Perro" (BOMBON, The Dog), an Argentine film by Carlos Sorin who won a jury prize here two years ago with “Minimal Stories”.
This director works characteristically with non-professional actors who appear in his films under their real names, “Bom-Bon” is the name of a docile white mastiff who shares the lead with a gentle man from Patagonia by the name of Juan Villegas. Juan is a dog raiser and “expositor” – he prepares his canine protégés for dog shows, but, at the moment his only rep is his close friend Bombon. This rare breed is highly sought for stud services in the outlying southern desert province of the country. One problem: Bombon is a virgin and doesn’t know what to do when enclosed with a female in heat. Following a most amusing insemination fiasco, he finally escapes from his kennel and learns the fine art of stud service on his own with a lovely black bitch in a brickyard. This is a gentle, beautiful film, set in a region similar to the more arid parts of the American Southwest and is a welcome change from the violence, misery and cruelty that has contaaminated all other Latino entries I have seen so far. “Bombon” will undoubtedly score big on the festival circuit and will, hopefully, find commercial outlets as well.

Alex Deleon

Synopsis:
Patagonia is a rough land, and for 52-year-old Juan Villegas, it's even rougher. A mechanic who's just lost his job, Juan tries to make ends meet by selling hand-made knives. No one wants them, but Juan isn't bitter and never loses his calm. When he repairs a young woman's car one day, he is given a most unusual gift: a beautiful Dogo Argentino, a game hound of noble pedigree called "Bombón." Man and dog carefully eye each other, each creature weighing the pros and cons of a possible long-term relationship. But Bombón is good-natured and willing, and Juan unquestioningly welcomes the dog into his life. More yet: Bombón begins to change his new master's life. Swept into the world of exuberant dog trainer Walter, Juan is talked into entering Bombón into a local dog show, where Bombón comes in third! For Juan Villegas, it's a first step in a promising new career as exhibitor – and the start of a beautiful friendship...
Director: Carlos Sorin
Producer: Oscar Kramer
Co-Producers: Jacques-Henri Bronckart,
Sabine Sidawi Hamdan and Elie Khalife
Screenplay: Santiago Calori, Salvador Roselli, Carlos Sorin based on an idea by Carlos Sorin
Director of Photography: Hugo Colace, A.D.F.
Editor: Mohamed Rajid
Music: Nicolás Sorín
Cast: Juan Villegas, Walter Donado,
Gregorio as Bombón