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Undertow

Contracorriente

Colombia, Germany, France, Peru

2009

97 Min
Color
1.85:1
Spanish
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
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DIR Javier Fuentes-León

EXEC Andrés Calderón, Cristian Conti, Christian Fürst, Emilie Georges, Ole Landsjöaasen, Annette Pisacane, Michel Ruben

PROD Javier Fuentes-León, Rodrigo Guerrero

SCR Javier Fuentes-León

DP Mauricio Vidal

CAST Cristian Mercado, Manolo Cardona, Tatiana Astengo, José Chacaltana, Cindy Díaz

ED Roberto Benavides

MUSIC Selma Mutal

SOUND Daniel Garces Najar El Gato

Sundance (World Cinema Dramatic Competition): Audience Award - World Cinema, Dramatic, San Sebastián (Horizones Latinos), Edinburgh (Rosebud), Outfest (International Centerpiece): Special Programming Award - Artistic Achievement, Queer Lisboa (Panorama)

Synopsis

Miguel, a village fisherman, married and about to become a father, has a secret romance with an artist and outsider, Santiago. Miguel is faced with a tremendous dilemma when Santiago drowns suddenly, coming back from the dead to ask him to find his body in the sea and bury it according to the village rituals so that his soul can rest in peace. To fulfil Santiago’s wishes would mean revealing his affair, ruining his marriage and his reputation. But failing to do so would sentence him to eternal limbo. —San Sebastian International Film Festival

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ramosbarajas

25Mar12

Seeing this film as a modern-day fairy tale is necessary to understanding it. The story becomes so original that it's almost impossible not to like it. The twist comes unexpectedly, and it works very well. The screenplay and direction are perfect, and the performances are some of the best. The characters feel real, and one grows to care for them. It is definitely one of the best queer films from recent years.

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katheerine

18Feb12

I really liked it.

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marcorenton

25Aug11

Saw it for a second time, the colours in this movie are simply amazing!

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Matt Richards

26Apr11

Set within a stunning, seaside, fishing village on the coast of Peru. Our protagonist is married, active within the church, has his first child on the way and also happens to be having a passionate affair with a man. The film takes on a quirky twist that in lesser films could be seen as a real stinker. Beautiful colour and photography with a warm story that perhaps goes for about 15 mins too long. 3 stars

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Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

Cineaste, Lancaster, "London Boulevard," "King's Speech," More

By David Hudson on November 26, 2010

David Greven in the new Winter 2010 issue of Cineaste: "Judging by these first three entries of Arsenal Pulp Press's new series Queer Film

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W184

Frameline 2010

By David Hudson on June 17, 2010

It is, as Michael Hawley notes at the top of his preview (ten capsule reviews and a batch of quick takes), "the world's oldest and largest

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[Last Time I Saw] Undertow: 7/10

By lasttim​eisaw on January 9, 2011

English Title: Undertow
Original Title Contracorriente
Year: 2009
Country: Peru, Colombia, France, Germany
Language: Spanish
Genre: Drama
Director: Javier Fuentes-Leon
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