At the gay film night organised by our partner Edition Salzgeber there is a gay film of the finest quality in numerous cities every month. September's film is a great romance from Peru: "Contracorriente": "Ghost" meets "Brokeback Mountain"
Suddenly Santiago is standing in the middle of Miguel's kitchen. And says nothing. Just looks at Miguel. Then he leaves again. They had clearly agreed to only meet on the beach, to only make love there. It has to be because Miguel is married to Mariela, who is expecting his child. And because the inhabitants of Cabo Blanco, the small village on the Peruvian coast where they all live, would not understand that Miguel the fisherman, one of their own kind, loves Santiago, the painter from the town, as well as his wife.
The contrasts in Javier Fuentes-León's "Contracorriente" (which can be translated as "undercurrent") are quickly established on the surface: Here the imaginative, creative, tolerant city dweller who puts up with all kinds of hardships for the love of a man, there the stubborn, backward-looking village community that would not allow a member to be different. All of this wrapped up in breathtaking landscapes, and the award-winning relationship drama is complete.
But the director and screenwriter doesn't want to make it that easy for himself or his audience. "Contracorriente" is much more than a simple parable about social resistance that has to be overcome. It becomes great emotional cinema because it is not about the couple's happiness. That never has a chance. Because what's in Miguel's kitchen is just a ghost. Santiago is dead, drowned, and now wants to force his lover to find his body and give him a traditional burial, as is customary. Which would also mean that Miguel would have to confess to their relationship. And that's just the first 25 minutes of the film.
"Contracorriente" was Peru's Oscar nominee in 2010 and quite rightly so. Fuentes-León does not shy away from great emotion, wrapping it up in perfect craftsmanship and giving his two leading actors Manolo Cardano and Cristian Mercado plenty to do: there is laughter and suffering, quiet crying and exultant shagging. Both are big stars in their home country and clearly enjoy the acting task they have been given.
Which is a real surprise, because Peru is not a very progressive country when it comes to dealing with homosexuality. Homosexuality is not a criminal offence, but it is frowned upon. Nevertheless, "Cantracorriente" was a great success with audiences and has triggered a broad social debate that is still in full swing.
For German cinema-goers, the film is like "Brokeback Mountain" meets "Ghost - Message from Sam": a heartbreaking, weepingly beautiful story about two guys and fate. Absolutely must see!
(pasch)
"Contracorriente" (Peru/Colombia/France/Federal Republic of Germany 2010) will be shown on 19 September on Gay Film Night in many cinemas throughout Germany and then in many other cinemas throughout the country. Exact dates and further information: http://gay-filmnight.com and https://www.gmfilms.de/de/
