Shashank Jain I was surfing on net last night about best gay movies than i came to this movie.. After watching this movies i cried for almost an hour, because in India its almost same, difficult for people to come out about their sexuality and most of the married Indian males try to search their love in other guys.The story, the acting and the emotions are so true and you can easily relate you with movie. Simple, small and friendly village, where people understand each other and lives in a unity and the emotions of a gay men, his simplicity and the way he messed up with all the stuff makes it more real. The end part was very touchy and i still found myself crying when i think about it. I know how it feels to say goodbye forever to someone you love more than anything in this world.This is one of the movie where they have represented gays with a different point of view unlike other movies about only sex, gay parties, sex buddies and making jokes on feminine gays. Its about the true feeling of a guy for someone, though he love his family but he doesn't wanna loose that someone special as well.

derrickluciano I wouldn't miss reviewing this film because it's one of the most engaging gay themed films I've seen. Although a lot of films have depicted repressed characters, gay husbands and gossipy neighbors, this one takes the tragic ghost love story angle. And finally, this is the film which succeeds in showing what it is to be a real man.Mico and Tiago are lovers but can never be a couple in a conservative seaside village where gossiping is a favorite pastime. Mico initially does not accept who he truly is nor who he truly loves but what follows is his journey to confront himself amidst a very homophobic community. And this he does without any disrespect for his family, religion and tradition. Most are excellent actors. Feel Mico's anguish when he first realized what happened to Tiago. Sympathize with Mariela as she carries her baby hurriedly out of her house. Or look at Tiago's very expressive eyes...Cinematography is excellent, with beautiful seaside sceneries, sand amid gushing winds, and purple, orange or moonlight skies. Pacing is excellent. There's comedy, there's drama, a bit of suspense and most of all, a loving romance.Watch this film. It is about true love and honor. The final scene at the boat is truly beautiful and uplifting!

sergepesic " Undertow", gut-wrenching and quietly powerful Peruvian movie, brings back the faith in the power of story telling. This forgotten art seems to have passed by most of our contemporary film-makers. Luckily it didn't Javier Funtes-Leon. Small fishing village seemingly locked in time capsule. Grueling work, old-time believes, church on Sundays and communal meal after. Everybody knows everybody, or do they? Small towns, like little tribes, include all members of its community.Up to a point. As long as you play by their traditional rules, you'll be fine. But, just try to step out of the rhythm of the tribal tune, and they turn on you. Of course, this is a movie about a repression of gay people and the horrors they have to endure just because they are different. But, it is so much more. The indictment of empty traditions, false morals and greatest possible cheer for personal courage. This is the life we have, these are the cards we are dealt and play we must.With our head up high and damn the consequences, or hiding and trying to please all but yourself. Doesn't seems such a hard choice to me, or is it?

jotix100 The life of a small fishing village in Northern Peru is the setting for this powerful drama which was shown recently on an international cable channel. A love between two men takes center stage in this surprising production which marks the film debut of Javier Fuentes-Leon, the creator of this picture.As the story begins, we watch Miguel, a local fisherman, kisses his wife Mariela's swollen stomach. Mariela is expecting any moment now. The idyllic moment is interrupted by a neighbor who comes to inform Miguel of a death of a fellow fisherman. As the funeral procession goes through the sea front street toward one of the vessels, we see a photographer taking pictures of the procession. The man is placed on board Miguel's boat and the shrouded body is thrown into the water.Miguel has been leading a double life, we find out. He has been involved in a torrid love affair with Santiago, the handsome photographer. They hide their passion away from the eyes of the villagers as they cannot even hint about the way they feel about each other. Acting differently would be seen as a horrible sin among the simple folk of the town. The men are clearly in love in spite of Miguel apparently happy home life with Mariela.There is a big mystery surrounding Santiago's presence in the town, as well as his disappearance, which is not clearly known, but the secret belongs to Miguel, who will never reveal it. That is the case, until a couple from the village decide to hold a tryst in Santiago's abandoned house. There, they discover paintings of a naked Miguel all over the walls. The woman is instrumental in revealing a secret no one in town even suspected, out of spite because Miguel never paid attention to what she really wanted from him."Undertow" surprises for the sure way Javier Fuentes-Leon created in this different kind of story. The unusual love between two men from different walks of life against such a background is too much for the simple fisherman of the remote locale. Miguel, who does everything to deny his involvement to Mariela, does the only decent thing he can do when the fate of Santiago is known. The whole situation proves to be too much for Mariela, who decides to leave town with her newly born son, rather than stay behind and being the butt of all the gossip. The film is done with a controlled dignity as Mr. Fuentes-Leon does not sensationalize the situation for shock, or erotic values.There are first rate performances from the three principals. Cristian Mercado's Miguel is excellent. He is torn between his family and his honor as well as his standing in the community, and his blissful married life with Mariela. Manolo Cardona, a handsome actor, is quite effective as the lover of Miguel. Tatiana Astengo, seen as Mariela, makes also an impression for her approach to the role of the deceived woman who had no clue about what was going on behind her back. The film is erotically charged because of the heat produced by Mr. Mercado and Mr. Cardona. The cinematographer, Mauricio Vidal captures in vivid colors the picturesque seaside town and its environs in amazing ways to give the film a wonderful texture. Mr. Fuentes-Leon shows he is a talented man whose next work we eagerly await. To his credit the film is exquisitely developed without a hint of bad taste as it is never in one's face to exploit the sex between the lovers.