Amores Perros tells the stories of three main families who are all directly connected to one another in a horrific car accident that takes place in the opening sequence of the film. Although these are three extremely different types of families, from different socioeconomic classes, they all have a few common elements: abandonment, dysfunction, rivalry, and regret.
The Abandonment Theme
It is easy to see that all of these families are dysfunctional. Abandonment is a major theme in the film, and a major factor in the dysfunction of these three families. First of all, it isn’t explicitly stated why, but in the first story line, two rival brothers, Octavio and Ramiro, do not have a father present in their lives; either he has left them or is dead, which may be considered a type of abandonment.
Likewise, in the same story line, the woman who comes between the brothers, Susana, has been abandoned by her parents emotionally; her mother is too drunk to even know if she’s coming or going, and she doesn’t have a father in the picture, either. This dysfunction is spread into the next generation when there seems to be no better fate on the horizon for Ramiro and Susana’s baby and unborn child.
In the second storyline, Daniel has also abandoned his family. He has two daughters and a wife that he clearly cares about, but has given them up to be with Valeria. The hitman of the third storyline has abandoned his wife and daughter, as well. These two stories show that the abandonment not only affects the kids, but often leaves the person who has done the leaving with remorse and regret over his actions.
Rivalry and Jealousy
The dysfunction is explored further in the rivalry/jealousy motif that carries its way through all of these families. Octavio and Ramiro have a fierce rivalry: over Susana, over being the bread winner in the family, and over Cofi, the dog. They are always at odds with one another. In fact, Octavio takes it so far as to hire some thugs to beat Ramiro badly, possibly with the intention of killing him.
Likewise, there is jealousy and rivalry in Daniel and Valeria’s family situation. Valeria is always suspicious of Daniel, since he is technically a cheater (he cheated on his wife with her). She is also jealous of Daniel’s wife and kids because she is worried that he still loves them and will choose them over her.
Clearly, rivalry also exists in the storyline of the hitman. It is made explicit when he replaces the face of his daughter’s step-father in the photograph with a photo of his own. The jealousy and rivalry will eat away at these people until they reach a breaking point, as is seen in the destruction of the family units.
It seems as though the last rivalry is between the two brothers the hitman has captured. They have let jealousy and rivalry come so far between them that they are prepared to kill one another - clearly not the way family members should treat one another.
Connections in Amores Perros
It becomes obvious that all families have problems; dysfunctional families are a universal phenomenon. These three families represent different social statuses, different classes of wealth, and different levels of education, yet they are suffering the same type of dysfunction.
It is interesting to see the way that these families are not only similar, but one’s dysfunction is directly related and impacted by the dysfunction of the other, despite their different positions in society. In fact, the film goes to great lengths to show that they are directly connected through their physical collision in the crash.
Iñárritu is possibly most well-known for directing 2006's Babel.
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