A hit on the film festival circuit, BEAR CUB (CACHORRO) is a gay-themed Spanish film that aims to separate itself from the Pedro Almodovar mold. The film explores the "bear" gay subculture, which focuses more on lasting friendships and realistic body images than the camp, narcissistic physical perfection, or wild partying that characterizes some other aspects of gay culture. Pedro (Jose Luis Garcia-Perez, nominated for a Goya) is a successful dentist who happens to be homosexual. When his sister arrives at his doorstep with her son Bernardo in tow, Pedro ends up becoming the boy's temporary guardian while she departs for India. Pedro rushes to clean up some of his behavior and discovers that Bernardo is unaffected by the exposure to his uncle's lifestyle. The two become fast friends, but their comfortable relationship is threatened by Pedro's estranged mother, who has arrived with designs on Bernardo's upbringing--primarily, that the boy should not be raised by a gay man. BEAR CUB explores many of the issues confronting the gay community--HIV, homophobia, parenting--while remaining naturalistic in presentation. It was directed by Miguel Albaladejo.