Essential 5: Pedro Almodóvar

Pedro Almodóvar is arguably the most important Spanish film director since Luis Buñuel. He is well known for his melodramatic plots, use of Hitchcockian suspense techniques, and gay themes. His films are most often compared to those of Douglas Sirk, the under-appreciated creator of many melodramas in the United States in the 1950s. Much like Sirk, his films are deceptively complex and are most notable for their use of eye-popping color. Also like Sirk, his films are often disregarded and misunderstood.

One of the many artists who took advantage of the rapid growth of the arts in Spain after Franco's death in 1975, Almodovar gained popularity quickly, making short films often without soundtracks which he would narrate himself in person. He steadily made larger and larger budget films, eventually forming his own production company with his brother, Agustín. All of his films are worthwhile but because of their thematic similarities, they often are best understood in the context of his other films. That can make getting into his films a little difficult, but they are certainly entertaining. The difficulty isn't in liking his films, but in understanding their nuance.

In the past many of the Essential 5 lists have been in chronological order, here though, I recommend watching in a much different (and seemingly random) order:

1. All About My Mother (1999)
His greatest film and the best introduction to his work; All About My Mother celebrates women, gay culture, Spain, eccentricity, and art. The central performances are all great. This was Penelope Cruz's breakout role, and she does some nice work here. It's easy to tell that she is a great fit for Almodovar's style.

2. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)
The most romantic of Almodovar's films. This movie easily fits into a romantic comedy mold, but is certainly like nothing you've seen before. The romantic hero is a psychopathic kidnapper and the romance is built around Stockholm Syndrome. It certainly doesn't sound like fun and in the beginning it can be a little... unpleasant. Ultimately the film becomes everything a good romantic comedy should be and it has some brains to boot!

3. Talk to Her (2002)
Almodovar likes to take characters types who normally populate films as the villain, flesh them out, and make them sympathetic (perhaps even the hero). Knowing this film's twist can only hurt the experience so I recommend not reading much about it before seeing it.

4. Law of Desire (1987)
Almodovar's most overtly gay film, it primarily concerns a love triangle between 3 men. This is one of his most complex films. It has a great performance by Antonio Banderas in one of his first big roles.

5. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
This is the film which introduced Almodovar to the world. It is a pretty straight comedy but is unflinchingly clever. Many of the topical jokes are still relevant and the ones that aren't hardly interrupt the breakneck pace of the film.