Arno Chevrier Movies
A man tries to leave his wild life behind him for the sake of a young boy in this comedy drama. Pedro (José Luis García Pérez) is a dentist who lives and works in Madrid. Pedro is also a "bear" -- slang for a gay man who is stocky and has lots of body hair. Pedro likes the company of other bears, and enjoys a freewheeling sex life until his sister Violetta (Elvira Lindo) arrives at his door with a special request. Violetta is traveling to India for two weeks, and wants Pedro to look after her son, nine-year-old Bernardo (David Castillo), while she's away. Pedro initially bristles at the idea of playing babysitter, but he soon warms to the situation, and develops a paternal bond his nephew. Pedro also gets some help from Manuel (Arno Chevrier), a former boyfriend who is looking to settle into a stable relationship. When Pedro gets word that Violetta has been arrested in India for drug smuggling and is likely to spend some time behind bars, he realizes that he's going to be stuck with Bernardo for a while -- and to his surprise, he doesn't mind the idea at all. But Doña Teresa (Empar Ferrer), the boy's paternal grandmother, openly disapproves of Pedro's lifestyle, and doesn't want Bernardo staying with his uncle. While Pedro is strictly mindful of his behavior around the house, he occasionally slips out for anonymous sex with fellow bears, and when a detective hired by Doña Teresa catches him in the act, it's an open question if he'll be allowed to have continued custody of his nephew. Cachorro (which translates as Bear Cub) received its American premiere at the 2004 Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- José Luis García Pérez, David Castillo, (more)
Actress Anjelica Huston directed and stars in this drama based on Brendan O'Carroll's novel The Mammy. Set in Dublin in 1967, Agnes Browne (Anjelica Huston) is the mother of seven children, barely making ends meet when her husband dies, leaving her to figure out not only how to support the family, but also how to pay for a funeral. To cover the burial expenses, Agnes resorts to borrowing money from a loan shark (Ray Winstone) who isn't interested in special deals for widows or orphans. Agnes learns to scrape up a living selling fruit and vegetables, and makes sure her children get the best education possible, but self-sacrificing Agnes would like one small luxury for herself: Tom Jones will be playing a concert in town soon, and she'd like nothing more than to hear the man sing "It's Not Unusual" live and in person. A French baker with eyes for Agnes (Arno Chevrier) joins forces with her children to see that she gets her wish. Agnes Browne boasts an accurate portrayal of Ireland in the late 1960s, thanks in part to the fact that Huston spent a great deal of time there as a child; the film was shown as part of the Directors Fortnight series at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anjelica Huston, Marion O'Dwyer, (more)
- 1998
- R
A Michel Tournier short story is the source for this expressionistic Belgian-French-Italian comedy-drama, filmed in black-and-white with French dialogue. Lucien L'Hotte (Jean-Yves Thual), a dwarf who works for a law firm, is befriended by circus trapeze artist Isis (Dyna Gauzy), who views him as her guardian angel. Minus love, Lucien writes and mails letters to upset the marriages of others. His company's number one client, divorced vocalist Paola Bendoni (Anita Ekberg) vamps him at her villa, and their affair begins. But her later rejection doesn't sit well, so he creeps into her house, strangles her, and frames her dullard husband (Arno Chevrier) for the deed. Shown in the Directors Fortnight section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Yves Thual, Anita Ekberg, (more)
- 1994
Kissing seems to be a popular activity in this Swiss epic costume drama based on an 1880 novel. The story begins in Munich with lots of people vigorously kissing in the midst of a bacchanalia carnival. Two men, Lys and Henry are even going at it. Henry, a sensitive artist, is wearing a green suit which symbolizes his jealousy and immaturity. He, angry at Lys for cheating on his fiancee, challenges Lys to a duel upon the morrow. What Henry is really angry at is his own failure to marry his true love. The movie jumps back to Switzerland during Henry's childhood soon after he lost his father. He wants his mother's love, but she remains strict and aloof. At school Henry is picked on and it is only when he finds the theater that he meets the beautiful actress Judith. He becomes enamored and forgets all about his love affair with cousin Anna. Time passes quickly and an older Henry returns home to find dear Anna. His attentions are again diverted when the ageless Judith again appears. He does not realize that beloved but unappreciated Anna is soon to die of tuberculosis. Tragedy ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thibault de Montalembert, Florence Darel, (more)
