Undertow

Director: Javier Fuentes-León
Screenwriters: Javier Fuentes-León

Institute History

  • 2010 Sundance Film Festival

Description

In a tiny Peruvian seaside village, where traditions run deep, Miguel (Cristian Mercado), a young fisherman, and his beautiful bride, Mariela (Tatiana Astengo), are about to welcome their first child. But Miguel harbors a scandalous secret. He's in love with Santiago (Manolo Cardona), a painter, who is ostracized by the town because he's gay. After a tragic accident occurs, Miguel must choose between sentencing Santiago to eternal torment or doing right by him and, in turn, revealing their relationship to Mariela—and the entire village.

Written and directed by Javier Fuentes-León, and featuring a sizzling international cast, Contracorriente (Undertow) is rich in the details of legend, tradition, and locale; and it is in these details that the truth lies. Strikingly photographed to accentuate the majestic Peruvian coastline, this sexy, haunting love story transcends place and time.

— David Courier

Screening Details

Sundance Film Festival Awards

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