By Joanna Orland
Gael García Bernal’s latest directorial feature, Hombre al agua, is a modern comedy of manners that follows an ensemble cast of characters who strive to climb the social ladder. García Bernal stars in the lead role of Camilo, a former lifeguard who’s been promoted to a prominent corporate job after saving the life of Abel (Jorge Salinas), a wealthy Mexican businessman. In addition to being his right-hand man, he’s also married to Abel’s daughter Juana (Esmeralda Pimentel), with whom he shares a baby.
‘Hombre al agua’ Is a Messy Story With Many Characters and Layers
Camilo and his wife Juana reside in a country manor owned by Abel. By day, he works for Abel at his manufacturing company, by night, he’s looking after his baby daughter as Juana focuses on her own ambitions to train as a pole vaulter. There is also their nanny Malvina (Anna Díaz) who looks after the baby when Camilo is at work.
They have various guests who come to stay at their manor, as Juana teams up with film star Fabiana (Débora Nascimento) to make a movie about her life, alongside actor Roby (Ricky Martin) who’s playing the Camilo character in the movie within the movie. After Abel is in a minor accident, Camilo is tasked with discreetly looking after Abel’s pregnant mistress Silvina (Natalia Oreiro), who is also invited to stay at the manor. And lastly, they are visited by a man who claims to be Silvina’s husband, played by Manuel García-Rulfo.
“You are what you make others believe before they catch on,” says Camilo in a blatant point of social commentary. Each character is playing another character, trying to reinvent themselves. Fabiana dives wholeheartedly into her role as Juana, mirroring and mimicking her every move. Abel too is pretending to be something that he’s not, a corporate businessman playing an environmentalist turned politician. And so on.
‘Hombre al agua’ Is a Satirical Comedy That Sometimes Strays Into Melodrama
Tonally, the film strays between comedy, drama, and melodrama. It’s messy in that sense, but ambitious in its vision. Through its social commentary, it weaves together its different elements.
The prominent themes of Hombre al agua are wealth, class, and social standing. Even though Camilo has married into money, he is merely pretending to be rich, as the other characters repeatedly point out to him. People are used as pets and playthings for the wealthy characters, whether they realize it or not, or whether they will admit it to themselves or not.
At nearly two hours long, Hombre al agua spins its wheels and overstates its point. Had it been a 90-minute satirical romp, it could have been much more effective. As it waffles on, the jokes don’t always land, and they would benefit from a snappier pace. Even so, the comedic elements are funny and meaningful, with García Bernal clearly demonstrating what he wants to say about class, capitalism, and society. Juana in particular has some very funny moments, including her wanting her biopic to take a stand against “prejudice against the wealthy.”
Gael García Bernal Is a Man of Many Talents
Unlike some other films directed by actors, Hombre al agua does not at all feel like a vanity project. In fact, it feels rather sophisticated for someone whose primary career isn’t directing. It’s very deliberate and intentional in what it’s trying to do, and García Bernal is in full control of this genre mashup, in spite of the messy elements.
As an actor, García Bernal has worked with many great directors including Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Pedro Almodóvar, Walter Salles, Michel Gondry, Jim Jarmusch, and Pablo Larraín. He understands what makes a compelling film, and showcases this with layers and depth to the narrative. He’s clearly been studying filmmaking on the job as an actor and has learned a lot from the masters he’s worked with, as Hombre al agua takes influence from many of his previous starring vehicles.
With as many roles as he has names, Gael García Bernal reaffirms himself as a multihyphenate talent with Hombre al agua. It may not be a perfect film, but it is one with ambition and layers, captivating in its delivery and relentless in its point of view.
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Hombre al agua
Directed by Gael García Bernal
Starring Gael García Bernal, Esmeralda Pimentel, Débora Nascimento, Natalia Oreiro, Anna Díaz, Ezequiel Díaz, Jorge Salinas, and Ricky Martin
Reviewed at TIFF 2026
