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Quiet Achievement
We recently spoke to Peruvian director Javier Fuentes-León who was in Sydney to promote his haunting love story which has garnered high critical acclaim
Javier Fuentes-León's first feature movie is a brave move in his career. From a directorial beginning in short films, to Undertow - winner of seven awards at globally renowned film festivals including Sundance - León's impact is being made, and felt by festival audiences around the world.
"We're in competition here at the Sydney Film Festival, but the quality of all the other entries that I've seen has been astounding," he admits. "But we've been very fortunate thus far."
Undertow, a mysterious journey into the life of an oppressed, homosexual fisherman in a traditional Peruvian community, is certainly a bold topic to broach for his first theatrical length film. However Fuentes-León notes that, "It was such an interesting story and a very interesting character study too.
"Peru can have quite a negative outlook towards homosexuality, although the younger generations are a lot more open and accepting of this culture," explains Fuentes-León. "Macho culture has a strong hold in tradition, men must be forceful and powerful, and they believe that to be gay is to be the opposite of this image. But that's only a small part of the gay spectrum, and we touch on that in Undertow."
Shot on location, and including a Latin American cast, Fuentes-León agrees that it was a controversial theme to involve so many people in. "Everyone was really great, though. I was scared that some of the cast and crew would not be supportive, or would make fun of the project, but they were very enthused and very professional," he says.
Fuentes-León encountered other challenges in creating his first feature film. "The logistics of shooting in a rather remote community, without film labs, was difficult but we managed very well. I think I was more scared of leading this project, and working with so many people in a feature film environment. It was a good, creative environment with a family vibe too."
Undertow is screening at Sydney Film Festival on June 12 and 13. For more information, visit the festival website.
Picture caption: Fuentes-León at Sundance Film Festival 2010, courtesy of Getty Images. Taken by Jemal Countess.