Broken Embraces (2009)

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127 min - Drama | Romance | Thriller - 18 March 2009 (Spain)

7.2

Ratings: 7.2/10 from 15,569 users Metascore: 76/100
Reviews: 79 user | 206 critic | 32 from Metacritic.com

Harry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back. He was then still known by his real name, Mateo Blanco, and directing his last movie.

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Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 29 nominations See more awards »

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Penélope Cruz	...	Lena
	Lluís Homar	...	Mateo Blanco / Harry Caine
	Blanca Portillo	...	Judit García
	José Luis Gómez	...	Ernesto Martel
	Rubén Ochandiano	...	Ray X
	Tamar Novas	...	Diego
	Ángela Molina	...	Madre de Lena
	Chus Lampreave	...	Portera
	Kiti Manver	...	Madame Mylene (as Kiti Mánver)
	Lola Dueñas	...	Lectora de labios
	Mariola Fuentes	...	Edurne
	Carmen Machi	...	Chon
	Kira Miró	...	Modelo
	Rossy de Palma	...	Julieta
	Alejo Sauras	...	Álex

Full cast and crew »

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Storyline

Passion, obsession, wealth, jealousy, family, guilt, and creativity. In Madrid, Harry Caine is a blind screenwriter, assisted by Judit and her son Diego. The past comes rushing in when Harry learns of the death of Ernesto Martel, a wealthy businessman, and Ernesto's son pays Harry a visit. In a series of flashbacks to the 1990s, we see Harry, who was then Mateo Blanco, a director; he falls in love with Ernesto's mistress, Lena, and casts her in a film, which Ernesto finances. Ernesto is jealous and obsessive, sending his son to film the making of the movie, to follow Lena and Mateo, and to give him the daily footage. Judit doesn't like Lena. It's a collision course. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Spain] | Official site [France] | See more »

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | English

Release Date:

18 March 2009 (Spain) See more »

Also Known As:

Разомкнутые объятия See more »

Filming Locations:

Arucas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£296,048 (UK) (30 August 2009) (90 Screens)

Gross:

$5,009,119 (USA) (23 May 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures International (UPI), Canal+ España, El Deseo S.A. See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

See full technical specs »

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview with El País in March 2009, Pedro Almodóvar revealed that the idea for the lip reader played by Lola Dueñas came from watching the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Asturias on Spain's Telecinco, where the services of a lip reader were employed by the channel to relay what the couple were saying to each other as they stood at the altar. See more »

Goofs

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Mateo's wristwatch has the crystal intact. A blind person's watch would have the crystal removed, so that (s)he could tell time by feeling the position of the hands. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
[in Spanish, quoting English subtitles]
Modelo: What's your name?
Mateo Blanco: Harry Caine.
[voiceover]
Mateo Blanco: I used to be called Mateo and I was a film director. I was always tempted by the idea of being someone else, as well as myself. Living one's life wasn't enough, so I invented a pseudonym, Harry Caine, an adventurer who, as fate would have it, became a writer...
See more »

Connections

References Magnificent Obsession (1954) See more »

Soundtracks

"Robot Oeuf"
Written by Uffie and Feadz
Performed by Uffie
Courtesy of Ed Banger Records See more »

Broken Embraces (2009)
Los abrazos rotos (original title)

Director:

Writer:

Stars: