Broken Embraces MovieRevue

Broken Embraces is the latest in a long line of films by the Spanish director, Pedro Almodovar.

Almodovar has been responsible for launching the careers of Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Javier Bardem (who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in: No country for old men).

As a director Almodovar has a penchant for casting his favourite actors (when available) for minor or major roles in his film's, which is why we see Penelope Cruz starring in this film.

In typical Almodovar style Broken Embraces is full of the requisite melodrama but it lacks the comedy usually present in most of his films. Broken Embraces see's Penelope Cruz playing "Lena", the mistress of a powerful business man Ernesto Martel. Bored with her life as mistress, Lena pursues a role in a new film and falls in love with the director "Mateo",  played by Lluis Homar. The film Broken Embrace is a film about a film being made and Almodovar cleverly references one of his earlier films, "Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown", as the film being produced and starring Penelope Cruz's character "Lena".

Much of the film is set in flash-backs with the now blind film director retelling the story of his romance with Lena to his friend's son "Diego", played by Tamar Novas (a new-comer to Spanish cinema). Henceforth Mateo the film director chooses to be known by his pseudonym, Harry Caine.

The film also references French actress "Jeanne Moreau" and other famous directors and films of her era.

This film will be liked by those who enjoy drama and romance in their films and who are also comfortable with reading subtititles (unless of course they are fluent in Spanish!)

I rate this film as one of my least favourite Almodovar films which certainly doesn't mean it was a bad one but I wish there had been more comedic moments amidst all the drama. I found the performances by Tamar Novas and his mother in the film, the actress Blanca Portillo very enjoyable.