A married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town's rigid traditions.
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Reviews
It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
I had never heard of this film until about two years ago, when Netflix recommended it to me "since you liked Brokeback Mountain". I immediately took an interest in the movie due to its subject matter, and its location of a small fishing village in the North of Peru - close to Mancora, which some fellow backpackers might be familiar with as a place of surf, 24/7 party and perpetual state of inebriation. Make no mistake, this little village is nothing like that.If you have read the description of this movie on IMDb, I won't give away anything that wasn't mentioned in that description, but for those who want to go into it without knowing anything about the movie, I would skip this review for now.This filmed turned out to be one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen, boosted by amazing acting and immense chemistry between the characters. The main character is a Peruvian fisherman called Miguel, who is married to a woman, Mariela, and they have a baby on the way. However, Miguel has a secret lover, an artist from out-of-town, Santiago (the lovely Manolo Cardona, lately seen in Narcos as vice- minister Sandoval.) The film depicts the reality of living in a rural Peruvian town where the strive for a nuclear family and strict traditions are very important and homophobia is unfortunately innate.Miguel and Santiago's relationship is absolutely beautiful, complicated by Miguel's conflicting feelings between following his heart and doing the right thing as a "man" and a father in a place where homosexuality is a taboo. After Santiago dies in the early scenes of the film, he remains to haunt Miguel in body and in spirit, and we get a beautiful exploration of Miguel's guilt and Santiago's despair, since he finds himself to be unable to move forward before the lovers get closure. The ending is both immensely sad and cautiously hopeful, and it touched me greatly. This is an outstandingly romantic, tragic, heart-wrenching and unique story, which I recommend for everyone.
Just finished viewing it from a recording I made last night from BBC2 Probably the best film on this subject ever made I cried uncontrollably at the final scene. Sensitive and brilliant directing and acting. It should be compulsory viewing for all sixth form students, homophobes and bigots as it may help reform their views and lead to a more tolerant and understanding society. I speak from the position of one who has suffered three quarters of a century of abuse from such people. Having to live a life in isolation and alone because of the love that dare not say its name. Having to pretend to be something you are not is soul destroying having to hide ones feelings to deny them and suppress them is devastating and was so beautifully portrayed in this most beautiful but extraordinarily apposite and sad film. Thank You.
Miguel (Cristian Mercado) is having a homosexual affair with a truly handsome painter Santiago (Tatiana Astengo). He refuses however to have the affair go as far as Santiago wants (he is married) and the latter commits suicide.Santiago's soul cannot rest until he has a proper burial and he comes back as a ghost to be with Miguel--no one but Miguel can see him. Miguel doesn't want the ghost to leave so ties his body to a rock underwater. Once buried properly the ghost will leave.The homo-phobic small religious fishing community ostracizes Miguel when some nude drawings and paintings in Santiago's house reveal the affair.My God life must be hell in a Peruvian fishing village for gays although all the locals seemed eager to participate in a movie filming about it? I do think it is a good look at general life in the village a lot of local non actors are used. The actor playing the gay artist Astengo is an Adonis and played the part well.The ending where the body is found and Miguel confesses all and buries his lover is moving.My problem is I just don't care that much for the genre showing gay hate maybe because I am gay. It is uncomfortable and brings back too many bad memories. This movie is compounded by showing too many shots of pregnant wombs and other modern PC stuff I could do without.The ghost idea borders on the gimmicky but was done well. It is also depressing when barely into the movie the handsome gay good guy is dead from suicide.I wish they would make more movies where the gays beat the system instead of end up committing suicide or have an over sexual mother and other stereotypes that won't die.For the genre this gets about an 8. It is unique and interesting. Have this director make a positive one with happy ending!!RECOMMEND
I loved this movie, perhaps my favorite Peruvian movie with The Teta Asustada. Having lived in Peru five years I can say this was a brave picture to make in a society that is still openly intolerant of homosexuality. I applaud the director and small cast for really coming together to produce something intimate and thoughtful. It is a quiet little film, with moments of great beauty and the cinematography and acting is really first rate. The two lead male actors were brilliant in demanding roles. Sometimes the music was a just little light for me but over all I was really surprised by this picture and it deserves a much wider audience.