By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Javier Fuentes-León
Starring: Attilia Boschetti | Cristian Mercado | Haydeé Cáceres | Humberto Cavero | José Chacaltana | Manolo Cardona | Maria Edelmira Palomino | Tatiana Astengo
Original language title: Contracorriente
Country: colombia, france, germany, peru
Year: 2010
Running time: 97
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1368491/reference
Michael says: “Gentle and understated, but with real emotion that resonates, Javier Fuentes-León’s debut feature UNDERTOW touches upon love, death, and what it means to be a man in South America. Set in a visually stunning village on the coast of Peru, UNDERTOW Miguel, his pregnant wife Mariela, and Santiago, the man he loves as they negotiate their complex relationships in a culture that can be less than accepting. UNDERTOW is a unique film that couldn’t be set anywhere else as the traditions and cultures are so specific to that place. Cristian Mercado’s powerful performance as Miguel is filled with layers of emotion, and Tatiana Astengo’s Mariela takes what could be a stock character and fills her with complexity and sympathy. Fuentes-Leon proves to be a master storyteller, with a gentle screenplay that packs an emotional wallop, and a visual sense that goes far beyond what must surely been a limited budget.
“You would think that with the gorgeous coastal setting, cinematographer Mauricio Vidal had it easy making UNDERTOW look good. And sure, the landscape helps the film look great, but Vidal’s skill is evident in the way he uses the natural lighting to startling effect, whether it is to underscore the somber tone of a funeral, to illuminate the celebration of a community dinner, or to lend an air of mystery and romance to a ghostly scene. In addition, Vidal’s camera placement is skillfully chosen to convey the powerful emotions ably performed by this tremendous cast. All in all, UNDERTOW is a visual masterpiece, and it has a lot more to do with this director of photography’s skill than the beautiful Peruvian landscape. 5 cats”