Internationally acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, known for his daring forays into the weird and unexpected, is back with the aptly titled 'Talk To Her,' arguably his most accomplished feature.
Most beguiling amalgamation of Almodovar's pet themes, this is about two men, about the loneliness and long convalescence of the wounds provoked by passion. The film carries the offbeat tone of his earlier work, while channelling the richness and textures of modern Spain.
Easily categorized as a drama, Almodovar plays with structures with elements of flashbacks and ambiguous story lines about the film's central characters.
The film begins with two men, who don't know each other, sitting next to each other, watching a ballet. Both are moved by the story and movement. One of them is Benigno (Javier Camera), a nurse, who is taking care of a beautiful, young ballet dancer, Alicia (Leonor Watling). Alicia has now been in a coma for four years. Benigno is in love with her and talks to her about the ballet, while massaging and washing her body.
The other man is an Argentinean travel writer, Marco (Dario Grandinetti), who is currently working on an assignment on a female bullfighter, Lydia (Rosario Flores). Through flashbacks, we learn how Marco became enchanted with Lydia and her vocation as a matador. However, when Lydia is attacked by a bull and falls into coma, Marco blames his blooming relationship with Lydia as the cause of her fatal lack of concentration. And it is at the clinic that Marco discovers Alicia and meets Benigo. Thus, is the beginning of an intense friendship, as linear as a roller coaster. During the time suspended within the walls of the clinic, the life of these four characters flows in all directions, leading all of them to an unexpected destiny
Nominated for 2 Categories, the movie won an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Pedro Almodovar and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film - Spain.
In the roles of the two central characters, Javier Camera and Dario Grandinetti are brilliant, straight men at their most vulnerable and torturous. The brilliance of the film is in its script, as Almodovar brings flaws and human enlightenment to the characters. While as a director, knows when to build up moments of suspense, comedy, and melodrama. The art direction by Antxon Gomez is exquisitely ravishing, especially the ballet scenes with lovely set decoration by Federico G. Cambero.
Another lovely aspect of the film is the score by Alberto Iglesias, who brings in traditional, Spanish flamenco-style music to the forefront.
Along the way, paying tribute to the age of Silent films, 'Talk To Her' is a movie of technical skill and rare depth of intellect and feeling!
Most beguiling amalgamation of Almodovar's pet themes, this is about two men, about the loneliness and long convalescence of the wounds provoked by passion. The film carries the offbeat tone of his earlier work, while channelling the richness and textures of modern Spain.
Easily categorized as a drama, Almodovar plays with structures with elements of flashbacks and ambiguous story lines about the film's central characters.
The film begins with two men, who don't know each other, sitting next to each other, watching a ballet. Both are moved by the story and movement. One of them is Benigno (Javier Camera), a nurse, who is taking care of a beautiful, young ballet dancer, Alicia (Leonor Watling). Alicia has now been in a coma for four years. Benigno is in love with her and talks to her about the ballet, while massaging and washing her body.
The other man is an Argentinean travel writer, Marco (Dario Grandinetti), who is currently working on an assignment on a female bullfighter, Lydia (Rosario Flores). Through flashbacks, we learn how Marco became enchanted with Lydia and her vocation as a matador. However, when Lydia is attacked by a bull and falls into coma, Marco blames his blooming relationship with Lydia as the cause of her fatal lack of concentration. And it is at the clinic that Marco discovers Alicia and meets Benigo. Thus, is the beginning of an intense friendship, as linear as a roller coaster. During the time suspended within the walls of the clinic, the life of these four characters flows in all directions, leading all of them to an unexpected destiny
Nominated for 2 Categories, the movie won an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Pedro Almodovar and the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film - Spain.
In the roles of the two central characters, Javier Camera and Dario Grandinetti are brilliant, straight men at their most vulnerable and torturous. The brilliance of the film is in its script, as Almodovar brings flaws and human enlightenment to the characters. While as a director, knows when to build up moments of suspense, comedy, and melodrama. The art direction by Antxon Gomez is exquisitely ravishing, especially the ballet scenes with lovely set decoration by Federico G. Cambero.
Another lovely aspect of the film is the score by Alberto Iglesias, who brings in traditional, Spanish flamenco-style music to the forefront.
Along the way, paying tribute to the age of Silent films, 'Talk To Her' is a movie of technical skill and rare depth of intellect and feeling!