By Hank Gerba

Best known for his films “Amores Perros” and, more recently, “Biutiful”, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu (Maria Gonzalez ’13) spoke to three sections of Cinema Studies students on Nov. 30.

“My story is simple,” Iñárritu said. “I’m not the 8-year-old boy who went to the cinema with his father and dreamed of one day making films.”

As a student, he studied law and became a communications major. However, as he studied, he began to drift from his original plans. He briefly pursued a career in music, and became a filmmaker after his musical pursuits failed.

Eventually, Iñárritu started writing scores for movies and television, but he never felt satisfied with his progress.

When his first film, “Amores Perros,” was released, it was well received and launched his career.

Iñárritu credits his ability to get through the three-year production process of “Amorres Perros” to the years of experience in the world of entertainment.

After reflecting on his career, Iñárritu advised Cinema Studies students not to plan their lives.

“If you know what you want to do with your life, what a boring life that will be,” he said. “I integrated a saying into ‘Amores Perros’ that I think is very important. It’s ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.’”

Iñárritu believes film has become more about entertainment and less about expression.

“It’s now about entertaining the masses,” he said. “Of course it should be entertaining, but it must be rooted in the art of self-expression.”

Among his favorite directors are Frederico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman, whose films he thinks are very profound and experimental.

Speaking to those who have dreams of making films in the future, Iñárritu encouraged students to think innovatively.

“This really is the best job in the world, but it’s a very challenging one,” he said. “Be original. Be aware of your responsibility to provoke thought and, most importantly, be real.”