Happy 71st Birthday, Pedro Almodóvar! Born today in 1949 as Pedro Almodóvar Caballero, this former Spanish actor, screenwriter, producer and film director is acclaimed as one of the most internationally successful Spanish filmmakers.
Almodóvar was born in a small town (Calzada de Calatrava) in the impoverished Spanish region of La Mancha. He arrived in Madrid in 1968, and survived by selling used items in the flea-market called El Rastro.
Unfortunately, Almodóvar couldn't study filmmaking because he didn't have the money to afford it. Besides, the filmmaking schools were closed in early 1970s by Franco's government.
Instead, he found a job in the Spanish phone company and saved his salary to buy a Super 8 camera.
From 1972–1978, Almodóvar devoted himself to make short films with the help of his friends. The "premieres" of those early films were famous in the rapidly growing world of the Spanish counter-culture.
In a few years, Almodóvar became a star of "La Movida Madrileña". This was the pop countercultural movement of late 1970s Madrid.
It took place during the Spanish transition after General Francisco Franco's death on November 20, 1975. The movement coincided with economic growth in Spain and the emergence of a new Spanish identity.
In 1980, Almodóvar made his first feature film. It was shot on 16mm and blown-up to 35mm for public release.
In 1987, he and his younger brother, Spanish film producer Agustín Almodóvar, established their own production company.
Naming it El Deseo (also known as El Deseo, S. A., the "Almodóvar phenomenon", it would eventually reach out all over the world, making Pedro's films very popular in many countries.
The following year, Almodóvar wrote and directed the first film of which he is best known. This was the 1988 Spanish black comedy-drama film 'Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios' ('Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown').
When Pepa Marcos' (Carmen Maura) lover Ivan (Fernando Guillén) suddenly leaves her without any explanation, she embarks on a strange journey to discover why.
On the way, she meets a variety of eccentric characters, including Ivan's son, Carlos (Antonio Banderas) from a previous relationship, and his fiancee Marissa (Rossy de Palma).
However, two Shiite terrorists have been secretly holding her best friend Candela (María Barranco) hostage in a cell. With one of the terrorists being her boyfriend, the is a film noir take on the romantic comedy.
Upon release, 'Women on the Verge' brought Almodóvar to widespread international attention: it was nominated an Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film Award the following year. However, it didn't win. This occurred at the 61st Academy Awards in late March 1989.
Three years later, Almodóvar was named a Member of Jury at the 45th Cannes Film Festival in May 1992.
Seven years later, Alomodóvar wrote and directed the second film of which he is best known. This was the 1999 Spanish drama/comedy-drama film 'Todo sobre mi madre' ('All About My Mother').
A Greek saying states that the only women who have washed their eyes with tears can see clearly.
However, this saying does not hold true for Manuela (Cecilia Roth). The night a car ran over her son Esteban (Eloy Azorin), Manuela cried until her eyes ran completely dry.
Far from seeing clearly, the present and the future become mixed up in darkness. She later begins looking for his father, who has become a transvestite.
Upon release, 'All About My Mother' was a commercial and critical success internationally. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film the following year. This occurred at the 72nd Academy Awards in late March 2000.
Two years later, Almodóvar wrote and directed the third film of which he is best known. This was the 2002 Spanish romance/drama film 'Hable con ella' ('Talk to Her').
Male nurse Benigno Martin (Javier Cámara) becomes infatuated with a complete stranger when he watches dancer Alicia (Leonor Watling) practicing from the anonymity of his apartment.
After being injured in a car accident, Alicia is brought to a nearby hospital, where Benigno serendipitously happens to be her caregiver.
When wounded bullfighter Lydia González (Rosario Flores) is brought into the same ward, her companion, writer Marco Zuluaga (Darío Grandinetti), begins to bond with Benigno.
Upon release, 'Talk to Her' was a critical and commercial success. The following year, the film won a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This occurred at the 56th British Academy Film Awards on February 23, 2003.
One month later, 'Talk to Her' won an Oscar for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). This occurred at the 75th Academy Awards on March 23, 2003.
Three years later, Almodóvar wrote and directed the fourth and final film of which he is best known. This was the 2006 Spanish drama/comedy-drama film 'Volver' (meaning "to go back").
The film follows Raimunda (Penélope Cruz), who works and lives Madrid with her husband Paco (Antonio de la Torre) and daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo).
Raimunda's sister Sole (Lola Dueñas) lives nearby and they both miss their mother Irene (Carmen Maura), who died several years ago in a house fire along with their father.
A former neighbor from their hometown reports that she has seen the ghost of Irene and both daughters do not believe her. However, after a murder and a family tragedy, Irene's spirit materializes around her daughters to help comfort them.
The following year, 'Volver' was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Penélope Cruz). However, she didn't win. This occurred at the 79th Academy Awards in late February 2007.
Two years later, Almodóvar received an honorary doctorate degree from Harvard University in 2009.
In addition to his previous honorary doctoral degree. he received another from the University of Oxford in 2016 for his contribution to the arts.
The following year, Almodóvar was named as President of the Jury for the 70th Cannes Film Festival in May 2017.
Among his credits, Almodóvar is also known for directing 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!' (1990), 'Bad Education' (2004), 'Broken Embraces' (2009), 'The Skin I Live In' (2011), and 'Julieta' (2016).
The trademarks in his films include using symbolism and metaphorical techniques to portray circular storylines, portraying strong female characters and transexuals and using his last name for his "Film By" credit ("Un Film de Almodóvar").
Desire, passion, family, and identity are among his most prevalent themes.
They are also marked by his employment of certain actors. and creative personnel, complex narratives, melodrama, pop culture, popular songs, irreverent humor, strong colors, and glossy décor.
Because of this, his films have gained worldwide interest and developed a cult following.
With a little help from his self-proclaimed cinematic muse, Penelope Cruz, by his side - Almodóvar entered the 21st century as a highly refined filmmaker, capable of earning the respect and adulation of international audiences while staying true to his native country.
Arguably the most popular and important filmmaker to have emerged from Spain, Almodóvar remained faithful to his native country for the entirety of his career in order to assure he could make the films he wanted.
Almodóvar has been active from 1974–present.
#borntodirect
@TodoAlmodovar
@Almadovar_news
@PedroAlmodovaR_
@eldoseo.oficial
@Criterion
@tcm
@Kanopy
@ModernofMuseumArt
@NewYorkFilmAcademy
@nytimes
@theguardian
@indiewire
@taschen
@Britannica
No comments:
Post a Comment