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News > Spain

Almodovar Casts Old Favorites, Bares All in 'Pain and Glory'

  • Director Pedro Almodovar and actress Penelope Cruz pose during a photocall to promote his latest film

    Director Pedro Almodovar and actress Penelope Cruz pose during a photocall to promote his latest film "Pain and Glory" in Madrid, Spain, March 12, 2019. | Photo: Reuters

Published 22 March 2019
Opinion

In his signature shades of bright blue and crimson red, Almodovar tells a story of love, mourning, and reconciliation.

Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar bares all in his latest film “Dolor y Gloria” (Pain and Glory), which is scheduled to hit theaters Friday in Spain.

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Despite previous promises of never creating an autobiography of any kind, the 69-year-old filmmaker paints the silver screens with his signature shades of bright blue and crimson red to tell an intimate story of love, mourning and reconciliation.

"I needed to make a very introspective look at myself, even towards the darkest part of myself, and mix it with the brightest memories of my childhood," Almodovar said, adding that the film left him “emotionally naked.”

The Spanish director's 21st film tells the tale of a melancholic filmmaker looking back at his life and his decisions.

“I own my stories and impose my universe with all the pride and all the arrogance that gives," Almodovar told eldiario.es. "And in my universe, there are two elderly gentlemen who kiss with passion and, right after, one of them returns to his life with his wife and children," he said.

As always, Almodovar carefully picked his cast, inviting a few favorites to return to his colorful sets.

Among them is Spanish actress Penelope Cruz (Volver, All About My Mother, Loving Pablo, Vanilla Sky), Andalusian Antonio Banderas (Desperado, The Mask of Zorro), Julieta Serrano Romero (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Matador, Dark Habits) and Asier Gomez Etxeandia (Velvet).

Known for testing the limits of society, Almodovar does not disappoint. According to interviews ahead of the film’s release, “Dolor y Gloria” explores homosexuality in youths, drug abuse, poverty and social class structures.

The Spanish director has won two Oscars so far. First, for best foreign language film in 2000 for the movie “All About My Mother” and again in 2003 for best original screenplay for the film “Talk to Her.”

After the death of dictator Francisco Franco Bahamonde, in 1975, a 39-year censorship on Spain’s film industry was lifted, and Almodovar became one of the first filmmakers to step into the limelight to boldly challenge the preimposed stigmas with bright colors, twisted plots and scandalous stories of love, life, murder and revenge.

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