Gael García Bernal on Directing Third Pic, ‘Hombre al Agua’

Gael García Bernal is best known for his breakout roles in two of Mexico’s most consequential films, “Amores Perros” (2000) and “Y Tu Mama Tambien” (2001) but he’s also been directing these past years. Proof of his cachet is having his third feature, “Hombre al agua” world premiere at the Venice Biennale and have its North American premiere at Toronto (TIFF).

The theme of class runs through “Hombre al agua,” as in his first two directorial outings, “Déficit” (2007) and “Chicuarotes” (2019). While “Déficit” exposed underlying class tensions at a party a wealthy teen throws to impress people, “Chicuarotes” centers on two working class teens trying to better their lives.

“I think class is undoubtedly a theme I’m drawn to, partly because the struggle has not been resolved. At the same time, class has been changing rapidly, with circumstances and public attention shifting considerably since I started working in cinema. So, it felt important to explore it, but also to question where we are we now and where we are heading,” he told Variety.

In “Hombre al agua,” García Bernal plays Camilo, a Cuban lifeguard who saves Abel, a Mexican businessman, from drowning. Grateful, Abel brings him to Mexico to work as his right-hand man and introduces him to his daughter, Juana, whom Camilo later marries. But he gradually realizes that his new life is part of a carefully orchestrated plan. As questions emerge about Abel’s motives, Camilo begins to piece together what is really happening and decides to take control of his future.

As the title suggests, roughly translated to “man overboard,” Camilo is adrift as his marriage falls apart and he tries to move beyond the lie he’s been living.

“I also wanted to explore the crisis of masculinity, the roles of men and women within a couple, and the experience of separation. I wanted to do all of this through comedy, with a kind of…