Undertow

Synopsis

The winner of numerous audience awards internationally, including the 2010 Sundance World Cinema Audience Award, UNDERTOW (Contracorriente) is a bittersweet tale of lost love, set against the backdrop of Peru's stunning coastline.

Miguel (Cristian Mercado, Che), a respected local fisherman, is expecting his first child with his beautiful wife, Mariela (Tatiana Astengo). However, their peaceful existence is threatened by Miguel's love for Santiago (Manolo Cardona, Beverly Hills Chihuahua), a visiting artist whose presence is viewed as a threat by the villagers. When a fatal accident befalls the community, Miguel is faced with hiding his true feelings or coming to terms with who he is and risk losing everything, including those he loves.

Peruvian director Javier Fuentes-León's outstanding debut is both a ravishing portrait of a rural idyll and a moving exploration of the complexity of the human heart.

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Reviews

"this is a true gem."

CRITICS' CHOICE FILM OF THE WEEK
TIME OUT

"a sensitive, affecting and strongly acted romantic drama... bracing and fresh."

HENRY FITZHERBERT, SUNDAY EXPRESS

"nuanced and daring debut"

DEREK MALCOLM, EVENING STANDARD

"sexy... heart-rendering... beautifully shot"

THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

"extraordinary"

THE GUARDIAN

"stroke of genius... a tender, unforced, well constructed and attractively shot fable about what it means to be a man."

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

"touching, funny and ultimately uplifting"

METRO

"Sexy, intimate and complex, this Peruvian fable refuses to embrace simple resolutions."

GAY TIMES