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Undertow (Contracorriente)

Javier Fuentes León
Peru, Colombia, France, Germany / 2010 / 100 min / Spanish with English subtitles

In Undertow (Contracorriente), Javier Fuentes León looks at what it means to be a man in contemporary Peru. The story centers around Miguel, a young and handsome fisherman who lives with his beautiful pregnant wife in Cabo Blanco, a small traditional fishing village in Northern Peru. What nobody knows is that Miguel is also having a passionate affair with Santiago, a painter who is ostracized from the community due to his sexuality and agnostic views. When Santiago drowns accidentally in the ocean's strong undertow, Miguel's scandalous secret forces him to make an important choice that could cause him to lose the people he loves the most. Undertow examines the complicated intersection of manhood, masculinity, sexuality and tradition. With its emotionally charged love story, sweeping images of the beautiful Peruvian coastline, and excellent cast, Undertow has received an outpouring of critical acclaim as well as numerous awards. 

Undertow is one of the many films included in the catalogue of Spanish Film Club.

Javier Fuentes was granted a scholarship from the OAS and moved to Los Angeles where he pursued an M.F.A. in film directing at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). His short film Rooms (Espacios) was awarded by the National Film Board of Peru (CONACINE). In 1998, Javier started his career in film and TV in the U.S., becoming the main writer of TV shows for Telemundo and editor of commercials and TV shows. Javier also worked on his own projects throughout these years. He wrote and directed his most recent short film, Gemini (Geminis), which screened in many North American film festivals, and wrote two feature scripts: The Woman Who Feared the Sun (La Mujer Que Temía Al Sol) and Undertow (Contracorriente) which he started to write in 2003 under the mentorship of John August (Big Fish) and John Cooper (Director of the Sundance Film Festival). Undertow has received multiple awards and distinctions.

Miami International Film Festival 
- Audience Award in Ibero-American Competition

Sundance Film Festival 
- Audience Award, Nominated Grand Jury Prize

Goya® Academy Awards 
- Nominated Best Spanish Language Foreign Film

San Sebastian International Film Festival 
- Sebastine Award

Outfest Los Angeles 
- Special Programming Award
- Artistic Achievement Frameline, Jury Award

Chicago International Latino Film Festival 

- Audience Award

Quotes

“…gorgeous and heartbreaking.Jumping out of Seat” Review -David Wiegand, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

“…Lovely, lyrical, near-universally romantic, and ends on a quiet grace note that is bittersweet perfection.” -Dennis Harvey, SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

"A delicate drama about a Peruvian villager’s struggle to keep his gay love affair hidden” -Tim Grierson, THE SCREEN DAILY

“A small movie with a full heart, Undertow takes an old idea — the loving, lingering ghost — and gives it reverberant, resuscitated life.” -Manhola Dargis, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Strikingly photographed to accentuate the majestic Peruvian coastline, this sexy, haunting love story transcends place and time.” -David Courier, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL