Undertow (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Undertow is a 2009 Peruvian
drama film
directed by Javier Fuentes-León. The film won the prestigious World Cinema Audience Award in the Dramatic category at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
. The film was also selected as the Peruvian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 83rd Academy Awards
but didn't make the final shortlist.
).
Santiago accidentally drowns at sea, and his ghost returns to ask Miguel to find his body, in order to bury it with their village's rituals. Miguel is forced to deal with the consequences of their actions and accept who he really is, even at the risk of losing the people that he loves.
Cinema of Peru
While the Peruvian film industry has not been nearly as prolific as that of some other Latin American countries, such as Mexico or Argentina, some Peruvian movies produced enjoyed regional success. The first Peruvian sound film was Alberto Santana's Resaca, which was released in 1934...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Javier Fuentes-León. The film won the prestigious World Cinema Audience Award in the Dramatic category at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
. The film was also selected as the Peruvian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 83rd Academy Awards
83rd Academy Awards
The 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2010 and took place February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, Academy Awards ...
but didn't make the final shortlist.
Cast
- Tatiana Astengo - Mariela
- Manolo CardonaManolo CardonaManolo Cardona is a Colombian actor.-Personal life:Cardona was born in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia. At the age of seven Cardona's family baptized him "Manolo".This would later be used as his name as an actor.When he was eighteen he moved to Cali, Colombia, to finish his studies. Manolo studied...
- Santiago - Cristian Mercado - Miguel
Plot
Miguel (Cristian Mercado) is a young fisherman of Cabo Blanco, a village in northern Peru with specific traditions regarding death. He is married to Mariela (Tatiana Astengo), who is pregnant with their first son, but he also has a secret affair with a man, Santiago (Manolo CardonaManolo Cardona
Manolo Cardona is a Colombian actor.-Personal life:Cardona was born in Popayán, Cauca, Colombia. At the age of seven Cardona's family baptized him "Manolo".This would later be used as his name as an actor.When he was eighteen he moved to Cali, Colombia, to finish his studies. Manolo studied...
).
Santiago accidentally drowns at sea, and his ghost returns to ask Miguel to find his body, in order to bury it with their village's rituals. Miguel is forced to deal with the consequences of their actions and accept who he really is, even at the risk of losing the people that he loves.