El fondo del mar (2003)

Director:

Damián Szifron

Writer:

Damián Szifron (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 2003 (Argentina)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Toledo, 25 years old, future architect, suffers from an acute jealousy. He cannot concentrate on his job nor on his studies...

Plot Keywords:

Jealousy | Love

Awards:

12 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Daniel Hendler	...	Ezequiel Toledo
Gustavo Garzón	...	Aníbal
Dolores Fonzi	...	Ana
Ramiro Agüero	...	Altclas
Ignacio Mendi	...	Rolandelli
José Palomino Cortez	...	Máximo
Rafael Filipelli	...	Filipelli
Mercedes Halfon	...	Voz en el teléfono
Diego Peretti	...	Cómico 1
Alejandro Fiore	...	Cómico 2
Marcos Woinsky
Gabriel Fernández	...	Joven Arquitecto
Daniel Valenzuela	...	Valenzuela
Claudio Rissi	...	Taxista
Mariela Fernández

Also Known As:

The Bottom of the Sea (USA)

Runtime:

Argentina:92 min

Country:

Argentina

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Patagonia, Argentina

Company:

Aeroplano Cine

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Los paranoicos (2008)

A dud that pretends to be important

'Bottom of the Sea' is a maddeningly uneven and peculiar movie that starts with an interesting premise: immature boyfriend (Daniel Hendler) notices a man (Gustavo Garzon) hidden under the bedroom apartment of his girlfriend (Dolores Fonzi), and then becomes obsessed with finding out who is he. He follows him relentlessly, encountering an array of mishaps as he goes. These mishaps are apparently supposed to be funny, but they're played with suspenseful music in the background. It's an odd incongruity.

Credulity is really strained in this film with Hendler's character, replete with heavy beard, a filthy t-shirt, ratty sweater, scruffy jeans and shoes. He looks every inch a hobo, not exactly the ideal candidate to be surreptitiously following someone around the streets of Buenos Aires. One look at this guy and you'd remember him for weeks.

Another big problem is having Hendler and Garzon share most of the screen time, leaving the gorgeous and talented Fonzi about 15 minutes to play what basically amounts to a prop. It's a role that pretty well any actress could have played. Big mistake of omission by the director, because Hendler just can't carry this movie alone. (And I must ask: since Hendler really DOES look like a hobo, like a guy who hasn't washed in a month, what in the world would a classy woman like the Fonzi character see in him in the first place?)

When we find out what the mystery character (Garzon) is really up to, there is no suspense, no real surprise, only an explanation. So the viewer is left to wonder: 'just what was that all about?' Basically, as far as I can tell, the film gave director Damian Szifron an excuse to make a symbolic/metaphorical film about the dark unknown of the sea serving as a source of light, hope and enlightenment for those lost in the world above. Immature architect Hendler envisions a sustainable, submerged city where people can find out 'who they really are'.

All in all, this is a confused movie that really doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up.