Hombre al agua

DramaComedy

★ Shortlisted by Ariane, Mitch Allen

Programme: Special Presentations
Year: 2026
Runtime: 116 min
Country: Mexico
Language: Spanish / Portuguese
Premiere: North American Premiere

Thousands of kilometers apart, two married colleagues meet during a corporate crisis, sparking a passionate connection that makes them question their lives and choices.

From the TIFF programme

The latest directorial feature from Gael García Bernal (TIFF ’19’s Chicuarotes) is a psychologically astute comedy of manners for the modern age, following an ensemble of eclectic characters seeking to become something more than who they are.

The latest directorial feature from superstar multihyphenate Gael García Bernal (TIFF ’19’s Chicuarotes) is a psychologically astute comedy of manners for the modern age. Exploring class, ambition, and the delicate art of social advancement, Hombre al agua follows an ensemble of eclectic characters from across the Americas, each seeking to become something more than who they are.

Everything changes the day Cuban lifeguard Camilo (García Bernal) rescues Mexican businessman Abel (Jorge Salinas, García Bernal’s co-star in TIFF ’00’s Amores Perros) from drowning. A night of drinking at Havana’s best tourist spots leads to an invitation for Camilo to come work for Abel’s seal manufacturing business, which leads to Camilo wooing, wedding, and having a child with Abel’s daughter Juana (Esmeralda Pimentel), and residing in Abel’s luxurious Yucatán country manor.

But paradise soon gets complicated. Camilo is tasked with discreetly looking after Abel’s pregnant Argentine mistress Silvina (Natalia Oreiro), while Juana teams up with a Brazilian film star (Débora Nascimento) to make a movie about her life.

Written by García Bernal and Mariano Pensotti, Hombre al agua creates a world of ambiance and intrigue: everyone seems to be playing a character or reinventing their past. The more money and power at stake, the harder it is to know who to believe. The beauty and humour of this sophisticated film lies in its reflection of hidden truth.

ANITA LEE