Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The City and the Dogs

Original title: La ciudad y los perros
  • 19851985
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
647
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
La ciudad y los perros (1985)
  • Drama
Four angry cadets have formed an inner circle in an attempt to beat the system and ward off the boredom and stifling confinement of the military academy, set off a chain of events that start... Read allFour angry cadets have formed an inner circle in an attempt to beat the system and ward off the boredom and stifling confinement of the military academy, set off a chain of events that starts with a theft and leads to murder.Four angry cadets have formed an inner circle in an attempt to beat the system and ward off the boredom and stifling confinement of the military academy, set off a chain of events that starts with a theft and leads to murder.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
647
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Francisco J. Lombardi
  • Writers
    • Mario Vargas Llosa(book)
    • José Watanabe
  • Stars
    • Pablo Serra
    • Gustavo Bueno
    • Luis Álvarez
Top credits
  • Director
    • Francisco J. Lombardi
  • Writers
    • Mario Vargas Llosa(book)
    • José Watanabe
  • Stars
    • Pablo Serra
    • Gustavo Bueno
    • Luis Álvarez
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Photos

    Juan Manuel Ochoa in La ciudad y los perros (1985)
    Miguel Iza, Aristóteles Picho, and Toño Vega in La ciudad y los perros (1985)
    Gustavo Bueno, Francisco J. Lombardi, Liliana Navarro, Mario Vargas Llosa, and José Watanabe at an event for La ciudad y los perros (1985)
    La ciudad y los perros (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Pablo Serra
    • The Poetas The Poet…
    Gustavo Bueno
    • Lt. Gamboaas Lt. Gamboa…
    Luis Álvarez
    • El Coronelas El Coronel
    Juan Manuel Ochoa
    • The Jaguaras The Jaguar…
    Eduardo Adrianzén
    • The Slaveas The Slave…
    Liliana Navarro
    • Teresaas Teresa
    Miguel Iza
    • Arrospideas Arrospide
    Aristóteles Picho
    • The Snakeas The Snake…
    Toño Vega
    • El Rulosas El Rulos
    • (as Antonio Vega)
    Isabel Duval
    • Teresa's auntas Teresa's aunt
    Ricardo Mejía
    David Meléndez
    • Serrano Cavaas Serrano Cava
    Jean Cotos
    • Sargentoas Sargento
    Pablo Briche
    • Vallanoas Vallano
    Guillermo Injoque
    Humberto Cavero
    • Médicoas Médico
    J. Raúl Galarreta
    Jorge Rodríguez Paz
    • The Generalas The General…
    • Director
      • Francisco J. Lombardi
    • Writers
      • Mario Vargas Llosa(book)
      • José Watanabe
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    La boca del lobo
    7.4
    La boca del lobo
    Captain Pantoja and the Special Services
    7.0
    Captain Pantoja and the Special Services
    Tinta roja
    7.1
    Tinta roja
    Retablo
    7.5
    Retablo
    Don't Tell Anyone
    6.8
    Don't Tell Anyone
    Magallanes
    7.4
    Magallanes
    Eternity
    7.6
    Eternity
    Días de Santiago
    7.2
    Días de Santiago
    La teta asustada
    6.7
    La teta asustada
    Song Without a Name
    7.0
    Song Without a Name
    Pantaleon
    6.0
    Pantaleon
    Madeinusa
    6.8
    Madeinusa

    Storyline

    Edit
    Four angry cadets have formed an inner circle in an attempt to beat the system and ward off the boredom and stifling confinement of the military academy, set off a chain of events that starts with a theft and leads to murder. —Anonymous
    • teen movie
    • theft
    • murder
    • military
    • military academy
    • 160 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Unrated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was shot in a nearby een jail, the building were very alike.
    • Goofs
      When Cadet Alberto Fernández ("The Poet") is giving evidence to the Colonel, a boom mic is visible twice.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Gamboa: Why are you staring at me cadet? You want my picture on my bare ass or what?

    • Connections
      References Scum (1979)

    User reviews10

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A Brilliant Study in Peruvian (& World) Masculinity
    While I agree with many of the comments already made in terms of the low-to-medium quality of this film's production, its incredible story more than makes up for it.

    I used this film in a course I taught twice on Masculinity in Latin American Literature -instead of reading the novel the movie adapts, because it allowed me to include more texts in less time. If you can, read the book, but beware: Vargas Llosa's are usually 500+ page novels.

    The story ends up being a virtual textbook on male homosocial structures and systems. It spoke loud and clear to all my students on the key issues at play in relationships of power amongst males. All the guys could relate to the pressures of conformity the movie represents. But male and female alike saw the dichotomies and subtleties present in the strange ways in which young men socialize and force each other to fit into orthodox male culture, or else. Though the context is a bit extreme, a military academy is certainly a more restricted and anxiety-producing environment than the average school, it outlines all the roles and behaviors imposed upon young men by the culture at large -a male-oriented and dominated society.

    Despite its limitations as a film, the story stands strong and true. Unfortunately, it remains contemporary in many ways. Not one student felt it was irrelevant; instead they found interesting the metaphoric use of "dog" to signify the barbaric qualities of the military/male systems represented. "Dog" is a cultural signifier they hear in popular US music a-plenty and its use in the film added a new dimension to their understanding of its meaning.

    Vargas Llosa's semi-autobiographical tale of male isolation and survival is poignant and deep. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in themes related to the life of boys.
    helpful•8
    3
    • lapetrov
    • May 9, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 18, 1985 (Peru)
    • Country of origin
      • Peru
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Die Stadt und die Hunde
    • Production company
      • Inca Films S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Mario Vargas Llosa: Nobel Winner in Literature & His Movies
    Oct 7Alt Film Guide
    Nobel Prize in Literature: Mario Vargas Llosa
    Oct 7MUBI

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    La ciudad y los perros (1985)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for La ciudad y los perros (1985)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.