Salt In The Wound

New queer film confronts abuse, love and the complexities of memory…

By Shane Gallagher

In Salt Water, a haunting new queer drama by Colombian filmmaker Steven Morales Pineda, a man confronts the ghosts of his past and the priest who left him emotionally scarred. 

Set against the arresting backdrop of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the film follows Jacobo (Luis Mario Jiménez), a 33-year-old man who reconnects with José Luis (Oscar Salazar), a former Catholic priest now accused of child abuse. José Luis is not only Jacobo’s alleged abuser; he was also his first love. Their reunion is charged with conflicting emotions of resentment, longing, guilt and even desire. As the tides of the ocean ebb and swell, so too do the emotions between the two men, raising questions that defy easy answers.

“Salt Water is about an uncomfortable love, but one that is still, undeniably, a love story,” says Pineda, who wrote, directed and co-produced the film. Drawing from personal experience, he began writing the story as an act of catharsis after turning 30 and confronting long-buried childhood trauma. “There was a story trapped deep inside me that I had always refused to tell,” he recalls. “I decided it was time for catharsis.”

Far from a black-and-white portrayal of victimhood and guilt, Salt Water invites viewers to sit with ambiguity. “I’m not here to point fingers,” says Pineda. “I want to foster empathy for those navigating trauma, for those silenced by shame, and for those whose actions we may not fully understand.” That nuance has made the film a standout at festivals, with audiences praising its emotional honesty and bravery. Pineda recalls: “At the Miami premiere, a man in his 70s whispered to me, ‘I’m a priest. And I thank you for the delicate way you’ve addressed this subject.’”

The film’s production was a labour of love and survival. Shot in April 2021 amid a sudden COVID-19 surge, the crew had to navigate lockdowns, curfews and police checkpoints. “It was an odyssey,” says Pineda, who financed the film with his life savings and the support of artist friends. “But in the end, everything came together beautifully.”

Salt Water also reflects the urgency and necessity of queer storytelling in today’s world. “Queer art is not just important, it’s essential,” Pineda affirms. “It’s how I challenge the systems that try to erase us. It’s a lifeline.”

Up next, Pineda is in post-production on his second feature, Our Name is Mary, a coming-of-age story about three teenagers exploring identity in a machista Colombian town. “I want to keep telling stories that give voice to misunderstood characters from the LGBTQ+ community,” he says. “There are more stories in the oven that will continue doing us justice.”

Salt Water is available on Amazon, Apple and all major TVOD platforms. Learn more at www.bgpics.com/movies/salt-water.

SHANE GALLAGHER is a long-time Manhattan resident who now resides in Tampa, Florida. He shares his home and life with his two cats, Milo and Snickers, and he recently joined a gay soccer league.