The story of two men in love with women that are in comas and how they deal with their personal tragedies.
Pedro Almodovar makes interesting films that are different but not so very different that they alienate the (world) cinema audience. Through video, DVD, cable, satellite, etc., what is the mainstream and what is art-house is becoming blurred. Naturally this is a good thing.
Returning to the subject in hand, I have to commend the director for his control and timing. The Madrid-based film maker is still learning and, this is his most mature visual piece. Sadly he still writes the scripts and his vision of taste doesn't have a natural censor - the word that Spaniards seem to hate more than any other.
Coma patients are interestingly in they are in a state of neither being dead or alive. Although here there is "no hope" of a return to the living. Whether they can hear what is going on or understand anything is an open question. This film takes no stance other than the obvious "they might so why not give it a go." Hence the title.
This is not a subject that I particularly want to see jokes being made about and the sense of voyeurism is not really praiseworthy either. The male nurse is controlled and dedicated (or so it seems!) and seen going about his everyday duties, but also childlike and (so he says in the film proper) a virgin.
There is an atmosphere here, but too little solid information for my liking. I didn't learn enough about the primary male subjects to draw any firm conclusions and the primary females are reduced to puppets for the bulk of the film.
The inclusion of dance numbers and a bizarre TV interviewer didn't take me anywhere or add anything to my understanding. The black and white sexy skit is strange and looks out of place - like Almodovar is trying to spice up the soup.
Clearly many are getting drawn inside his work and the praise of so many critics (paid or otherwise) is notable, but I notice they all see something different which suggests that they are just using the movie to get across their own agendas. As you can do with fey movies like this that take chances and push the envelope.
Pedro Almodovar makes interesting films that are different but not so very different that they alienate the (world) cinema audience. Through video, DVD, cable, satellite, etc., what is the mainstream and what is art-house is becoming blurred. Naturally this is a good thing.
Returning to the subject in hand, I have to commend the director for his control and timing. The Madrid-based film maker is still learning and, this is his most mature visual piece. Sadly he still writes the scripts and his vision of taste doesn't have a natural censor - the word that Spaniards seem to hate more than any other.
Coma patients are interestingly in they are in a state of neither being dead or alive. Although here there is "no hope" of a return to the living. Whether they can hear what is going on or understand anything is an open question. This film takes no stance other than the obvious "they might so why not give it a go." Hence the title.
This is not a subject that I particularly want to see jokes being made about and the sense of voyeurism is not really praiseworthy either. The male nurse is controlled and dedicated (or so it seems!) and seen going about his everyday duties, but also childlike and (so he says in the film proper) a virgin.
There is an atmosphere here, but too little solid information for my liking. I didn't learn enough about the primary male subjects to draw any firm conclusions and the primary females are reduced to puppets for the bulk of the film.
The inclusion of dance numbers and a bizarre TV interviewer didn't take me anywhere or add anything to my understanding. The black and white sexy skit is strange and looks out of place - like Almodovar is trying to spice up the soup.
Clearly many are getting drawn inside his work and the praise of so many critics (paid or otherwise) is notable, but I notice they all see something different which suggests that they are just using the movie to get across their own agendas. As you can do with fey movies like this that take chances and push the envelope.