Year of Release: 2019
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Asier Etxeandia, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Penelope Cruz, Julieta Serrano, Nora Navas, Cesar Vicente, Cecilia Roth, Asier Flores, Susi Sanchez, Raul Arevalo, Pedro Casablanc, Julian Lopez, Eva Martin
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review:
In a year of returns for great film makers, Pedro Almodovar is back with another feature, following "Julieta" which was released in 2016. "Dolor y Gloria" follows the story of Salvador Mallo, a film director of a certain age, who is riddled with health issues and chronic pain. When the local Cinematheque decides to run a remastered copy of one of his earlier films, Salvador gets in touch with the lead actor of that film, whom with he had a fall out after the release of the film, so they can both introduce it to the audience (and do a Q&A afterwards). As both men revisit the experience and try to patch their relationship, Alberto, who has always had substance abuse problems, passes some drugs to Salvador in order to help him deal with the pain. Salvador starts using it frequently, while intermittently remembering his past and growing up under the tutelage of his mother. When Alberto uncovers a short story from Salvador and wants to perform it on stage, that also triggers more memories, while coincidentally brings back some past loves to Salvador's life, forcing him to evaluate where he is, and where he wants to go with his life.
Pedro Almodovar has a career filled with stunning films, with a lot of them being based on his own life, growing up in Spain, his relationship with his mother, and his irreverent approach to film making and art (and his love of cinema). "Dolor y Gloria" follows in the footsteps of other autobiographical/inspired by films from his career such as "La Mala Educacion". Salvador Mallo, much like Almodovar, has had a series of health setbacks, which have prevented him from moving on with his career, and is haunted by the ghosts of his mother, his childhood, and the loves that he had to move past, in order to survive and live. The character is an older version of Enrique Goded, Fele Martinez's creation from "La Mala Educacion", but one burdened by physical pain, and emotional scars from failed relationships and loss of loved ones. It's a film that captures both the loneliness of the central character's life, but also the joyous upbringing that character had in Spain in the 50s, with the ever central presence of women, who shaped him to become the man he is. It's a film where the stylistic touches that Almodovar always had, have been toned down, focusing more on the universe of the characters he's showcasing. The cast is uniformly excellent, with a fantastic Antonio Banderas creating one of his best characters yet. The cinematography from Jose Luis Alcaine is impeccable, as is the score from Alberto Iglesias. A very good film from a true master.
Pedro Almodovar has a career filled with stunning films, with a lot of them being based on his own life, growing up in Spain, his relationship with his mother, and his irreverent approach to film making and art (and his love of cinema). "Dolor y Gloria" follows in the footsteps of other autobiographical/inspired by films from his career such as "La Mala Educacion". Salvador Mallo, much like Almodovar, has had a series of health setbacks, which have prevented him from moving on with his career, and is haunted by the ghosts of his mother, his childhood, and the loves that he had to move past, in order to survive and live. The character is an older version of Enrique Goded, Fele Martinez's creation from "La Mala Educacion", but one burdened by physical pain, and emotional scars from failed relationships and loss of loved ones. It's a film that captures both the loneliness of the central character's life, but also the joyous upbringing that character had in Spain in the 50s, with the ever central presence of women, who shaped him to become the man he is. It's a film where the stylistic touches that Almodovar always had, have been toned down, focusing more on the universe of the characters he's showcasing. The cast is uniformly excellent, with a fantastic Antonio Banderas creating one of his best characters yet. The cinematography from Jose Luis Alcaine is impeccable, as is the score from Alberto Iglesias. A very good film from a true master.
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