Well, I was caught by the current.
*spoilers below*
After a lovely brunch with Pete/VermontSunset, Sandy/memento, Lynne and Andrew, complete with toasts to our dear friend Rodney, Lynne, Andrew and I headed out to Kendall Square to see "Undertow". Apologies to Lynne for rushing us along, she knows I hate to be late.
I purposely went into this film as an Undertow virgin, not having read reviews or articles, nor even having seen the trailers. Just like BBM.
There are many rewards to seeing this film. The characters are so real, so believable, even in the face of unbelievable circumstances.
The BBM comparison can't be ignored, from the early dozy embrace homage, to the Ennis-like character who sincerely loves his wife and baby, and also his photographer/painter lover, but can't admit it.
The overall theme, to me, is: what does it mean to be a man? Miguel, the fisherman, as the main protagonist, must ask himself this question repeatedly.
Instead of the west of the 1960s, we have present-day Cabo de Blanco, a poor, very Catholic, very claustrophobic fishing village. Steeped in tradition, everyone knows everyone's business.
Miguel is smitten with Santiago, but repeatedly denies (Peter-like) their relationship. There are confrontation sequences, reminiscent of our Lake Scene, and when Santiago drowns (it was not clear if this was an accident or a suicide, victim of the "undertow"), Miguel alone sees him, as if in purgatory, waiting for his rest.
Some of the most moving scenes (to me) were of the two lovers being themselves, including walking down the street holding hands, knowing that Santiago was invisble to everyone but Miguel, because now he is a kind of ghost.
The ending parallels BBM in that Miguel eventually gets to "offer him" to the sea, in the way that Ennis would if he could have scattered Jack's ashes on Brokeback Mt.
There were tears, both on film, and chez moi, but I didn't think it stooped to melodrama. I found it very sincere. Miguel's wife was as sympathetic as Alma, even more so, and the different and changing reactions of the town folk to Miguel's plight was fascinating.
Superb performances, gorgeous cinematography, diverse music, added to the pleasure.
Thank you, Eric, for going to bat for this film, and I even liked it LOL. I may have to see it again this week before it leaves.