El Fondo del Mar
Encyclopedia
Bottom of the Sea is a 2003 Argentine film directed by Damián Szifrón
. The picture was produced by Sebastian Aloi, executive produced by Sebastian Aloi, Nathalie Cabiron, and Damián Cukierkorn. The associate producers were Diana Frey
and Guillermo Otero.
The film features Daniel Hendler
, Dolores Fonzi
and Gustavo Garzón
among others.
), drops by his girlfriend Ana's (Dolores Fonzi
) home and finds Aníbal (Gustavo Garzón
) hiding under her bed.
He begins to suspect Ana and jealousy fills him. He decides to follow Aníbal, whom he's sure is having an affair with Ana.
The film follows a night's odyssey as he trails his suspect and starts to gather small details about Aníbal identity.
At one point Ezequiel sets fire to Aníbal's car and threatens his life.
The story ultimately deals with jealousy and the maturity required to overcome that jealousy.
at the March 11, 2003. It opened wide in Argentina on August 28, 2003.
The film has been screened at some film festivals, including: the Toulouse Latin America Film Festival, France
; the Latin America Film Festival, Poland
; the Lleida Latin-American Film Festival
, Spain
; the Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival, Spain; and others.
for FIPRESCI
liked the film, and wrote, "El fondo del mar is clearly directed to the box office crowds when made through the use of mixed genres, but it does not fall into any false intents; closer to the aesthetics of Fabian Bielinsky's Nine Queens, El fondo del mar shows that a cinema made with pleasure and formal rigor is still possible."
Neil Young thought the film was an "unassuming but very likeable little comedy with dramatic touches...writer-director makes a very old set-up seem fresh, funny and surprising." Yet, Young thought director Damián Szifrón lost his way at the end.
Nominations
Damián Szifrón
Damián Szifron is an Argentine film and television director, and screenwriter, best known as the creator of the TV series Los Simuladores ....
. The picture was produced by Sebastian Aloi, executive produced by Sebastian Aloi, Nathalie Cabiron, and Damián Cukierkorn. The associate producers were Diana Frey
Diana Frey
Diana Frey is an Argentine film producer and production manager active in the Cinema of Argentina since 1976.She has produced a number of significant Argentine pictures such as Alambrado , Plata quemada and El Fondo del mar .She is currently working on Resurrectores which is in production for a...
and Guillermo Otero.
The film features Daniel Hendler
Daniel Hendler
Daniel Hendler is an Uruguayan film, television, and theatre actor who works mainly in the cinema of Argentina, where he lives. He is known for his starring roles in films such as Bottom of the Sea, Family Law, The Paranoids, Phase 7, and award winning Lost Embrace by director Daniel Burman, with...
, Dolores Fonzi
Dolores Fonzi
Dolores Fonzi is an Argentine TV and film actress active since 1997.Several of her films have received critical acclaim such as Plata quemada , Esperando al mesías , El Fondo del mar and El Aura . Her brother, Tomás Fonzi is also an actor in the Cinema of Argentina...
and Gustavo Garzón
Gustavo Garzón
Gustavo Garzón is an Argentine film and television actor.He works in the cinema of Argentina.-Filmography:* Cosa de locos * Tacos altos * Los Días de junio aka Days in June...
among others.
Plot
A slightly neurotic architecture student, Ezequiel Toledo (Daniel HendlerDaniel Hendler
Daniel Hendler is an Uruguayan film, television, and theatre actor who works mainly in the cinema of Argentina, where he lives. He is known for his starring roles in films such as Bottom of the Sea, Family Law, The Paranoids, Phase 7, and award winning Lost Embrace by director Daniel Burman, with...
), drops by his girlfriend Ana's (Dolores Fonzi
Dolores Fonzi
Dolores Fonzi is an Argentine TV and film actress active since 1997.Several of her films have received critical acclaim such as Plata quemada , Esperando al mesías , El Fondo del mar and El Aura . Her brother, Tomás Fonzi is also an actor in the Cinema of Argentina...
) home and finds Aníbal (Gustavo Garzón
Gustavo Garzón
Gustavo Garzón is an Argentine film and television actor.He works in the cinema of Argentina.-Filmography:* Cosa de locos * Tacos altos * Los Días de junio aka Days in June...
) hiding under her bed.
He begins to suspect Ana and jealousy fills him. He decides to follow Aníbal, whom he's sure is having an affair with Ana.
The film follows a night's odyssey as he trails his suspect and starts to gather small details about Aníbal identity.
At one point Ezequiel sets fire to Aníbal's car and threatens his life.
The story ultimately deals with jealousy and the maturity required to overcome that jealousy.
Cast
- Daniel HendlerDaniel HendlerDaniel Hendler is an Uruguayan film, television, and theatre actor who works mainly in the cinema of Argentina, where he lives. He is known for his starring roles in films such as Bottom of the Sea, Family Law, The Paranoids, Phase 7, and award winning Lost Embrace by director Daniel Burman, with...
as Ezequiel Toledo - Dolores FonziDolores FonziDolores Fonzi is an Argentine TV and film actress active since 1997.Several of her films have received critical acclaim such as Plata quemada , Esperando al mesías , El Fondo del mar and El Aura . Her brother, Tomás Fonzi is also an actor in the Cinema of Argentina...
as Ana - Gustavo GarzónGustavo GarzónGustavo Garzón is an Argentine film and television actor.He works in the cinema of Argentina.-Filmography:* Cosa de locos * Tacos altos * Los Días de junio aka Days in June...
as Aníbal - Ramiro Agüero as Altclas
- Ignacio Mendi as Rolandelli
- José Palomino Cortez as Máximo
- Rafael Filipelli as Filipelli
- Mercedes Halfon as Voz en el teléfono
- Diego PerettiDiego PerettiDiego Peretti is an Argentine actor, screenwriter and former psychiatrist.Peretti was born in Buenos Aires, and practiced as a psychiatrist for fourteen years. He took part in several movies and TV series, including the 2004 romantic comedy, No sos vos, soy yo, and Los Simuladores a popular TV...
as Cómico 1 - Alejandro Fiore as Cómico 2
- Gabriel FernándezGabriel FernándezGabriel Fernández Arenas, aka Gabi , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as a defensive midfielder.-Football career:...
as Joven Arquitecto - Daniel ValenzuelaDaniel ValenzuelaDaniel Valenzuela , is a prolific film and television actor. He has also done some screenplay writing. He works in the cinema of Argentina....
as Valenzuela - Claudio Rissi as Taxista
Distribution
The film was first presented at the Mar del Plata Film FestivalMar del Plata Film Festival
The Mar del Plata International Film Festival is an international film festival that takes place every November in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina...
at the March 11, 2003. It opened wide in Argentina on August 28, 2003.
The film has been screened at some film festivals, including: the Toulouse Latin America Film Festival, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; the Latin America Film Festival, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
; the Lleida Latin-American Film Festival
Lleida Latin-American Film Festival
The Lleida Latin-American Film Festival is a cinema festival that takes place in Lleida, Spain awarding Latin American films. It is organised by the Latin American Centre of Lleida and is sponsored by the city council , the University of Lleida and La Caixa...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; the Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival, Spain; and others.
Critical reception
Critic Gustavo J. Castagna, reporting from the Mar del Plata Film FestivalMar del Plata Film Festival
The Mar del Plata International Film Festival is an international film festival that takes place every November in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina...
for FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
liked the film, and wrote, "El fondo del mar is clearly directed to the box office crowds when made through the use of mixed genres, but it does not fall into any false intents; closer to the aesthetics of Fabian Bielinsky's Nine Queens, El fondo del mar shows that a cinema made with pleasure and formal rigor is still possible."
Neil Young thought the film was an "unassuming but very likeable little comedy with dramatic touches...writer-director makes a very old set-up seem fresh, funny and surprising." Yet, Young thought director Damián Szifrón lost his way at the end.
Awards
Wins- Clarin Entertainment Awards: Clarin Award Best Film Actor, Gustavo Garzón; Best Film Director, Damián Szifron; Best Film; Best Film Screenplay, Damián Szifron; 2003.
- Mar del Plata Film FestivalMar del Plata Film FestivalThe Mar del Plata International Film Festival is an international film festival that takes place every November in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina...
: Audience Award, Damián Szifron; Best Ibero-American Film, Damián Szifron; FIPRESCIFIPRESCIThe International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
Prize - Special Mention Best Latin-American Film, Damián Szifron; 2003. - Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival: Horizons Award - Special Mention, Damián Szifron, 2003.
- Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor; Best Supporting Actor, Gustavo Garzón; 2004.
- Lleida Latin-American Film FestivalLleida Latin-American Film FestivalThe Lleida Latin-American Film Festival is a cinema festival that takes place in Lleida, Spain awarding Latin American films. It is organised by the Latin American Centre of Lleida and is sponsored by the city council , the University of Lleida and La Caixa...
: Best Actor, Daniel Hendler; Best First Work, Damián Szifron; 2004.
Nominations
- Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor, Best Actor, Daniel Hendler; Best Art Direction, Mariela Rípodas and Lucia Onofri; Best Cinematography, Lucio Bonelli; Best Director, Damián Szifron; Best Film; Best First Film, Damián Szifron; Best Original Screenplay, Damián Szifron; Best Sound, Jesica Suarez, Marcos De Aguirre and Fernando Soldevila; Best Supporting Actress, Dolores Fonzi; 2004.
External links
- El fondo del mar at the cinenacional.comCinenacional.comCinenacional.com is a web portal and web-based database about Argentine cinema.The site provides a vast array of information, including: films, television programs, directors, actors, cinematographers, film editors, production designers, and other production professions in Argentina...
.