An exciting film from Perú is now showing in select theaters in the United States. Directed by newcomer Javier Fuentes-León, Contracorriente (or Undertow in English) is the story of Miguel (Cristian Mercado), a fisherman whose wife, Mariela (Tatiana Astengo) is expecting their first child. But Miguel has a secret: He’s also involved and in love with another man, Santiago (Manolo Cordona).
 |
| L to R: Santiage (Manolo Cardona) and Miguel (Christian Mercado) |
When Santiago dies in a tragic accident at sea, his ghost comes back to implore Miguel to retrieve his body and bury it according to Peruvian tradition. But if Miguel performs the ritual burial, he risks exposing his sexuality and his love for Santiago as well as losing everything else he holds dear.
The Guardian calls Contracorriente “a measured, delicate film set in a vividly evoked landscape.” New York Magazine says it possesses “a certain offhand grace that firmly places it in the magical-realist tradition.” And the Village Voice says it's “sublime.”
Check your local listings for theaters and showtimes. And be sure to watch the trailer: