Introduction
In 1975 French director François Reichenbach released the film "¿No Oyes Ladrar Los Perros?", for which Vangelis composed an original score. The story of "¿No Oyes Ladrar Los Perros?" is based on a short story by writer Juan Rulfo, a moving tale of hope and despair, about a father desparately seeking medical aid for his ill son, Ignacio. The story switches between their journey, and visions of a possible future life of the boy, if they find help in time. The title is an allusion to a Mexican folk tale which tells of how dogs once were once able to speak, but misbehaved and as punishment lost said ability. The film was nominated for a Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1975.
Vangelis' appropriate score, with both dramatic and dreamy sequences was released as an album, using different names such as “Can You Hear The Dogs Barking?” (1975), “Entends-Tu Les Chiens Aboyer?” (1975) and “Ignacio” (1977). Unlike many other films scored by Vangelis, the music in the film and the album are almost the same. Several parts of the score were also used by Carl Sagan in his 1980 documentary-series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage”.
Unfortunately the film was never released on DVD, the only home video release is a rare VHS released in the USA. Note that the movie contains Spanish dialogue throughout, without any subtitles.
Later Vangelis would work with François Reichenbach again on two promotional short films for the French travel agency “Club Méditerranée” (Club Med).
Details and credits
- Title: ¿No Oyes Ladrar Los Perros?
- Year: 1975
- Country: Mexico/France
- Alternate title: Entends-Tu Les Chiens Aboyer?
- Length: 82 minutes
- Directed by François Reichenbach.
- Music by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
- Text by Carlos Fuentes.
- Based on the book by Juan Rulfo.
- Screenplay by Jacqueline Lefebre, Noël Howard and François Reichenbach.
- Cinematography: Rosalío Solana
- Sound engineer: Sigrido Garcia
- Montage: Alberto Valenzuela
- Camera: Salvador Lozano
- Set Decorator: Carlos Grandjean
- Sound: José G. Carlos
- Produced by Georges Bacri and Leopoldo Silva.
- Produced by Cinematográfica Marco Polo, Conacine Uno and Les Films du Prisme ORTF.
Cast
- Salvador Sánchez
- Ahui Camacho
- Ana de Sade
- Salvador Gómez
- Aurora Clavel
- Gastón Melo
- Patrick Penn
Media
VHS
- Estralla EST-1110 USA (NTSC)
- OXXO OX-251 USA (NTSC)
Synopsis
"Juan Dolores, an Indian Tzotzil, takes his sick son to the village doctor; since he is not there, he has to take the boy to another place further away. Along the way he tells his son how a group of artists with puppets taught him the futility of witchcraft. At one point his son asks him if he will die; instead of answering, John tells him that as an adult he will be a musician and will marry according to tradition. In another town, Juan and his son see the celebration of Chuléele and, in another, how they name a character from the place chief. Afterwards, John tells the child about his sad experiences in the city and how he returned before his soul was stolen. Very close to his fate, John asks his son if he can hear the dogs bark? But it is too late...”
Links
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