Bombon el Perro (2004)

The above is the release title in England for the Argentinian film called simply "El Perro" (The Dog), and director Carlos Sorin has created another minor gem to be taken together with his earlier "Historias Minimas", which is also something of a doggy movie.  Working with non-professional actors in the wide-open spaces of Patagonia, the director introduces us to some wonderful characters whom we feel we have always known.  The protagonist here is an unemployed 52-year-old who wanders the highways, looking for work.  After helping a broken-down motorist whom he tows back to her miles-away ranch, he is given a dog as a thank you.  But not just any dog, it's an Argentinian Dogo (please note this is NOT the Spanish for dog, but the name of the breed): a very large and very imposing white monster, kind of like an oversized pitbull.  Owning this animal brings new experiences, new friends, and new self-worth to our hero, even if some would take advantage of his naivete.  That's about it (apart from the dogo having to learn to "hump"), but all rather sweet and simple.  Bombon incidentally was the animal's kennel-name, but not what his owner chose to call him, being a rather more down-to-earth characteer.