Prince Stars in New Film About Custody Battle

Award-winning show dog Prince has traded in his crown for a starring role in a cinematic battle royal, where he becomes an unlikely pawn in a ruthless custody battle.

The film, directed and written by Uruguayan Federico Borgia, takes place against the fading luxury backdrop of Punta del Este's seaside resorts. The story centers around Prince, the Afghan hound, his owner, her butler, and their extended family, all of whom become entangled in a complex web of intrigue.

The cast includes Roberto Suárez, Maitina De Marco, Esteban Bigliardi, among others, and will premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 8. The highly stylized film is being sold by Alpha Violet, which has a reputation for handling unique and visually striking projects.

As the main prize in a custody battle, Prince becomes embroiled in a "kitsch comedy about avarice and love," according to the festival website. Class divisions also play a significant role in the story, adding depth to the film's dark humor and absurd plot twists.

The story revolves around Jaime, a former lover turned live-in butler to Isabel, an affluent Argentine woman who has shared two decades of life in a luxurious coastal villa. Their unusual domestic routine is centered on Prince, Isabel's prized Afghan Hound.

Isabel's sudden death in the swimming pool sets off a chain reaction when her will reveals that she has left her entire estate to Prince, with Jaime as its guardian. This condition stipulates that only after Prince dies can Isabel's human relatives claim ownership of the property. The villa becomes a battleground for those seeking to exploit this loophole.

Jaime is caught in the middle as he tries to protect Prince from Isabel's estranged son and granddaughter, who are determined to find a way to oust the dog. This confrontation forces Jaime to confront his own past, particularly his estranged son Diego, whom he has long avoided.

The resulting tension transforms the villa into a claustrophobic pressure cooker, where everyone is trapped in their own web of relationships and desires. As the situation escalates, Jaime's loyalty to Prince is put to the test amidst the dark humor and absurd plot twists that permeate the story.

The film's director drew inspiration from his own life, observing the social dynamics of Montevideo and Punta del Este, two towns where different classes intersect. This mix of glamour and decadence sparked a game of observation, with the director writing down his observations and posing imaginative questions about what lay beneath the surface.

This fascination with class differences began at an early age for the director, who recalls a family outing to a dog groomer when he was 10 years old. There, he saw photographs of dog shows featuring owners dressed in formal attire, which struck him as comical. The image of these "suits" posing with their dogs has stayed with him.

The director's childhood experience merged with his later observations of social class and wealth disparities to form the basis of Prince's narrative. He began to weave together the threads of this story, exploring themes that would eventually become central to the film.

As Borgia delved deeper into his story, he encountered a complex character at its core. This protagonist's role in the narrative is multifaceted and open to interpretation, making their relationships with others equally ambiguous. They are caught between being a lover, partner, and butler for a woman they met through their work.

The search for the perfect cast was a deliberate process, combining both familiar faces and new discoveries. Borgia drew from his admiration for certain actors, while also exploring lesser-known talent in Argentina. This approach allowed him to assemble a diverse group of performers who would bring depth to the film's characters.

One notable find was Roberto Suárez, who plays Jaime in the story. Borgia had long wanted to collaborate with Suárez, admiring not only his acting skills but also his work as a theater creator. This mutual respect led to a productive partnership, with Suárez actively contributing to the development of the script.

Borgia's search for cast members in Argentina was thorough and varied. He explored different avenues, including casting calls and recommendations from industry insiders. Through this process, he discovered several talented performers who would eventually join the film's ensemble.

As the production of 'Prince' progressed, one of the canine stars faced a minor mishap on set. According to Borgia, the dog actor consistently delivered perfect performances, but there was an instance when things took an unexpected turn. The dog accidentally fell into a pool during filming and required several hours to dry its fur.

Borgia's choice of Afghan hound as the film's canine lead wasn't based on its reputation for trainability, but rather its distinctive appearance. In fact, he initially researched training methods online and found that the breed ranks low among easily trainable dogs, behind breeds like Border Collies and German Shepherds.

The creative team encountered an individual with a unique living situation, eight Afghan hounds at home. While this encounter inspired a potential new film idea, it also provided valuable insight for Borgia's project. He met someone who owned one particularly exceptional Afghan hound that stood out from the rest due to its calm and social nature.

Borgia is confident that despite being set in a specific environment, 'Prince' will resonate with global audiences due to its universal themes and character-driven narrative. The director emphasizes the importance of developing relatable characters and striking the right tone in storytelling. He believes that this approach allows him to put his own unique spin on the film's premise.

Borgia's creative process is marked by uncertainty, as he admits to not knowing what his next project will be after finishing a film.

He describes filmmaking as an addiction that he cannot shake off, and it seems likely that he will continue to pursue new projects in the future.