Bear Cub (Cachorro)

The story of an unprepared aunt or uncle who has to shoulder the responsibility of raising the child of a sibling--almost always with resistance from some other family member--is one so frequently told that it reeks of mothballs. But director Miguel Albaladejo's alternately engaging and poignant Spanish picture Bear Cub brings a twist to the familiar tale: uncle Pedro is not only homosexual but HIV-positive, and it's the chemistry between the burly Pedro and his little nephew Bernardo (the title refers to the community of big, hirsute gay men to which Pedro belongs, and for which the boy becomes a sort of mascot) that makes the film work. Jose Luis Garcia Perez is gruffly likable as the older man, while David Castillo is that rare youngster who can act precocious without becoming sickeningly cute. Bear Cub's other strength is that it treats supporting characters--not only the child's mother, a brainless sort who gets herself arrested on drug charges in India, but also Bernardo's paternal grandmother, who tries to get custody of the boy--with a degree of sympathy. The result is a film that tells its story with considerable nuance, not scrimping on the sentiment, but adding a welcome degree of subtlety. Recommended. (F. Swietek)