Ted Todorov
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2000
- Messages
- 3,709
Pedro Almodóvar new film Talk to Her (Hable con ella), which is now playing worldwide but not in the USA (I saw it in Paris) is one of his better films in recent years.
The story of two women who fall into comas (a bullfighter and a dancer) and the men who love them, it is an unapologetic soap opera/melodrama. At the same time though, it is a superb film in every respect.
It has become acceptable for first rate filmmakers to do "genre" films that aspire to greatness like films noirs (cops and robbers) (see L.A. Confidential), revenge (see The Limey), etc., etc. but soap opera was one genre neglected by serious directors -- until now, with Almodóvar's Talk to Her.
Combining great acting, directing and expertly crafted set pieces, Talk to Her transcends it's genre and then some. Take the scene where Benigno (Javier Cámara) who is in love a ballerina makes an apointment with her psychiatrist father so that he has an excuse to visit her apartment. The totally unembarrassed, most-natural-thing-in-the-world manner in which Begnino talks about being a virgin (deep into adulthood) and having spent his whole life taking care of his recently deceased mother, tells all kinds of things about his character and personality as well as providing a great comic undertone.
Another priceless scene involves the silent film within a film, Amante Menguante (Shrinking Lover) which has to be seen to be believed -- certainly my words won't do it justice.
All this and bullfighting too! Unfortunately making a great movie these days seems to be far easier than getting timely American distribution.
Ted
The story of two women who fall into comas (a bullfighter and a dancer) and the men who love them, it is an unapologetic soap opera/melodrama. At the same time though, it is a superb film in every respect.
It has become acceptable for first rate filmmakers to do "genre" films that aspire to greatness like films noirs (cops and robbers) (see L.A. Confidential), revenge (see The Limey), etc., etc. but soap opera was one genre neglected by serious directors -- until now, with Almodóvar's Talk to Her.
Combining great acting, directing and expertly crafted set pieces, Talk to Her transcends it's genre and then some. Take the scene where Benigno (Javier Cámara) who is in love a ballerina makes an apointment with her psychiatrist father so that he has an excuse to visit her apartment. The totally unembarrassed, most-natural-thing-in-the-world manner in which Begnino talks about being a virgin (deep into adulthood) and having spent his whole life taking care of his recently deceased mother, tells all kinds of things about his character and personality as well as providing a great comic undertone.
Another priceless scene involves the silent film within a film, Amante Menguante (Shrinking Lover) which has to be seen to be believed -- certainly my words won't do it justice.
All this and bullfighting too! Unfortunately making a great movie these days seems to be far easier than getting timely American distribution.
Ted
