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What the Waters Left Behind

Name: What the Waters Left Behind
Director: Luciano Onetti, Nicolás Onetti
Released: 2017
Duration: 98 min

Representation Score

4.4/10

Fair

2017

Unrated

Director

Luciano Onetti, Nicolás Onetti

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film serves as a minimalist exploration of environmental and existential collapse. Its narrative centers on atmospheric horror and the breakdown of social order in a desolate landscape. While the setting provides a critique of the instability of Western institutions, the character development is limited. The story prioritizes survivalist dread over exploring social identities. Ultimately, the film lacks the complexity needed to engage with diverse identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does What the Waters Left Behind have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories about queer identity.

How does What the Waters Left Behind portray gender?

Fair

Female characters are present but do not play a significant role in driving the story. They are shown to be vulnerable to the environment.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What the Waters Left Behind?

Fair

The cast reflects the local demographics of Epecuén, Argentina, and avoids the typical Hollywood focus on white actors. However, it does not explore multiple layers of identity.

How does What the Waters Left Behind represent religion and culture?

Good

The setting critiques the fragility of modern civilization and the decay of capitalist and social structures.

Does What the Waters Left Behind include disability representation?

Limited

Characters face physical and psychological distress due to isolation, which are part of the genre's typical struggles rather than intentional portrayals of disability or neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

The setting offers a profound critique of the fragility of modern civilization and Western infrastructure.
The cast reflects the regional Argentine demographic, avoiding typical Hollywood-centric casting norms.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks LGBTQ+ representation and stories about non-straight identities.
Female characters lack a significant role in driving the story and depth beyond their vulnerability to the environment.
There is no intentional portrayal of disability or neurodivergence driving the plot.

Official Synopsis

Epecuén was one of the most important touristic villages of Argentina. Thousands of people concurred, attracted by the healing properties of its thermal waters. On November 10th 1985, a huge volume of water broke the protecting embankment and the village was submerged under ten meters of salt water. Epecuén disappeared. Thirty years later, the waters receded and the ruins of Epecuén emerged exposing a bleak and deserted landscape. The residents never returned. The plot revolves around a group of young people that take a trip to the ruins in order to film a documentary about Epecuén. Ignoring the warnings, and after a brief tour, they get stranded in the abandoned village. Contrary to what they thought, they begin to realize that they are really not alone…

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