The release of Amores Perros in 2000 heralded the arrival of a master of modern
cinema. Alejandro Gonzâlez lnârritu's debut feature presented the fierce
realities of Mexico City’s underworld through three interlocking narratives of
hope and fear, desire and revenge, played out by Emilio Echevarrîa, Goya Toledo,
Gael Garcîa Bernal, and Marco Pérez. The ilm's luminous and gritty visual
language is translated to the page in this new publication, which marks the
film's twenty-fith anniversary with an unprecedented deep dive into its
production. Here lnârritu brings together stills, on-set photography,
behind-the-scenes materials, and cuttings from its critical reception to weave a
thrilling narrative of the film's immense production and influence. The
intricate construction of the f ilm's tripartite structure is tracked through
stills alongside lnârritu's handwritten notes devising the subtexts, driving
forces, and characterisation of each scene, interleaved with original
storyboards by Fernando Llanos. Combining drama, brutality, suspense, and
pathos, lnârritu’s fragmentary but propulsive original tale is reflected in the
collaged arrangement of the book's design. Completed by a new text by lnârritu,
Amores Perros offers a rich insight into the practice and process of one of the
world's leading filmmakers.
