Review by Holly Williams
Stars Tatiana Astengo, Manolo Cardona, Cristian Mercado
Certification UK 15 | Runtime 100 minutes | Written & directed by Javier Fuentes-Leon
In an assured feature debut, Peruvian director Javier Fuentes-Leon tackles a subject still taboo in Latin-America – homosexuality – with a sensitive touch. Miguel is expecting a baby with his wife, Mariela; he’s also in love with, and in denial about it, a young man named Santiago, a painter and an outsider within their Peruvian coastal village.
The film takes a slightly supernatural turn when Santiago is pulled under the sea by the strong currents, only to return as some kind of ghostly figure that only Miguel can see or hear. But this is a very matter-of-fact form of magical realism – there’s no spookiness or mysterious music. In fact, it seems the simple solution to their troubles at first; suddenly, the pair can walk down the street holding hands without any recrimination. But Santiago’s new existence is a lonely one, while for Miguel the relationship threatens to rock his family life, even in the afterlife. Local custom decrees a sea-burial is needed for a soul to achieve real rest, but can Miguel bear to let go of his lover?
Their relationship is brought touchingly to life. Playing Miguel is Cristian Mercado, whose mobile face is constantly emitting emotion, even in the smallest nostril-flare of a gesture, while the extremely beautiful Manolo Cardona is perfect as his artistic, sensitive – and irresistible - partner. Together, they create a real on-screen chemistry, that’s warmly affectionate but also sexually-charged. Fuentes-Leon continually pushes the camera in just a little further than you might expect, and this intimate framing suits his subject. Tatiana Astengo, too, is strong as Miguel’s wife, turning out an unguarded, believable performance.
The film drags its feet in the final half hour; there are several false finishes or moments that just seem a little too self-consciously poignant. But overall it’s a close-up look at a tricky triangle of different kinds of love and desire, of the conflicting demands of staying true to tradition and recognizing that some simply need to be broken.