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

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:

Pedro Almodóvar (written by)

Release Date:

18 March 2009 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Jealousy | 1990s | Love | Screenwriter

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 29 nominations

Cast

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 Mánver	...	Madame Mylene
Lola Dueñas	...	Lectora de labios
Mariola Fuentes	...	Edurne
Carmen Machi	...	Chon
Kira Miró	...	Modelo
Rossy de Palma	...	Julieta
Alejo Sauras	...	Álex
Carlos Sampedro		(as Carlos Sanpedro)
Ramón Pons	...	Padre de Lena
Coté Soler
Marta Aledo	...	Maribel
Carlos Leal
Chema Ruiz	...	Dr. Blasco
Dani Martín
Jons Pappila
Javier Coll	...	Luis
Juan Bautista Cucarella
Lyng Dyrup
Enrique Aparicio
Enrique Vargas
Viviana Espinoza		(as Viviana Espinosa)
Fernando Lueches	...	Montador de Avid
Fernando Iglesias
Javier Giner
Carlos García Cambero
Bina Daigeler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Agustín Almodóvar
Esther García
Karola Sánchez	...	Ayudante de producción
Yuyi Beringola	...	Recepcionista Cinearte (uncredited)
Sergio Díaz	...	Ayudante de dirección (uncredited)
Jaime Fernández-Cid Buscató	...	Vecino enrollado bar (uncredited)

Directed by
Pedro Almodóvar

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Pedro Almodóvar		written by

Produced by
Agustín Almodóvar	....	producer
Esther García	....	producer

Original Music by
Alberto Iglesias

Cinematography by
Rodrigo Prieto

Film Editing by
José Salcedo

Casting by
Luis San Narciso

Production Design by
Antxón Gómez

Art Direction by
Víctor Molero

Set Decoration by
Marta Blasco
Pilar Revuelta

Costume Design by
Sonia Grande

Makeup Department
Mirella de la Puente	....	assistant hair stylist
Yael Fernández-Maquieira	....	assistant makeup artist
Massimo Gattabrusi	....	key hair stylist
Ana Lozano	....	makeup department head
Mónica Miguel	....	assistant hair stylist
Arianna Palmucci	....	assistant hair stylist
Eva Quilez	....	assistant makeup artist
Virginia Ruiz	....	assistant makeup artist
Daniela Tartari	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Sergio Díaz	....	unit production manager
Toni Novella	....	production manager
Federico Rozadillas	....	assistant unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cecilio Caparrini	....	dga trainee
Guillermo Escribano	....	assistant director
Pablo García	....	third assistant director
Ferran Rial	....	second assistant director
Daniel Rivero	....	second assistant director
Andrea Vázquez	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Sonia Aranzabal	....	set dresser
Esteban Arranz	....	assistant decorator
Pablo Buratti	....	storyboard artist
Juan Gatti	....	graphic designer
Juanjo Gracia	....	assistant decorator
José Luis Moya	....	construction coordinator
Ramón Moya	....	construction manager
Nuria Muni	....	assistant decorator
María Clara Notari	....	assistant art director (as Clara Notari)
Iñaki Rubio	....	props buyer
Isaac Viejo	....	graphic designer
Tanja Wahlbeck	....	painter

Sound Department
Eduardo G. Castro	....	sound editing assistant
Álex F. Capilla	....	dialogue editor
Jaime Fernández-Cid Buscató	....	boom operator (as Jaime Fernández-Cid)
Angel Fragüela	....	sound assistant trainee
Patrick Ghislain	....	foley mixer
Mario González	....	mixer assistant
Pelayo Gutiérrez	....	sound editor
Rodrigo Merolla	....	second boom operator
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
Marc Orts	....	sound re-recording mixer
Miguel Rejas	....	sound
Iñaki Sánchez	....	sound assistant
Ricardo Viñas	....	dolby sound consultant

Special Effects by
César Abades	....	special effects
Reyes Abades	....	special effects
Óscar Abades	....	special effects technician
Jordi Morera	....	special effects makeup: DDT SFX
Pablo Perona Navarro	....	special effects makeup: DDT SFX set assistant
Daniel Reboul	....	special effects
Marcos Sagasta	....	special effects assistant: DDT sfx
Aleix Torrecillas	....	special effects makeup DDT crew
Joaquín Vergara	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Sonsoles Aranguren	....	digital compositor
Luis Blasco	....	digital compositor
Bahar Cetin	....	digital compositor
David Esteve	....	digital compositor
Guillermo Orbe	....	digital compositor
Ramón Ramos	....	visual effects artist
Thorsten Rienth	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Óscar Abades	....	stunts
Camino Capellín	....	stunts
Jordi Casares	....	stunt coordinator
Katia Fernández	....	stunts
Ángel Gómez Fernández	....	stunts (as Ángel Gómez)
Antonio Lemos	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Paola Ardizzoni	....	still photographer
Fernando Beltrán	....	head electrician
Roberto de Miguel	....	machinist (as Roberto Miguel)
Daniel Gago	....	electrician (as Dani Gago)
Álvaro García	....	second assistant camera
Falkwyn Goyeneche	....	video assistant (as Falkwyn de Goyeneche)
Francisco Izaguirre	....	lighting technician
Luis Lattanzi	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Diego Leco	....	camera operator: making of
Juan Leiva	....	first assistant camera
Joaquín Manchado	....	second camera operator
Raúl Manchado	....	Steadicam operator
Carlos Miguel	....	key grip
Emilio Pereda	....	still photographer
Bartolomé Pérez	....	lighting technician
José Manuel Reboul	....	electrician
Pablo Sánchez	....	second assistant camera
Miguel Ángel Viñas	....	camera intern
Guillermo Vázquez	....	technocrane assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Macarena García	....	assistant costume designer
María Lacambra	....	trainee
Lucía López	....	assistant costume designer
Joaquín Montull	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Miguel P. Gilaberte	....	digital intermediate colorist
Manolo Laguna	....	assistant editor
Rosa Ortiz	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Chris Barrett	....	assistant music engineer
Javier Casado	....	music co-producer
David Cerrejón	....	music assistant
Chris Clad	....	violin
Javier Crespo	....	musician
José Luis Crespo	....	music engineer
José Luis Crespo	....	music mixer
José Luis Crespo	....	music producer
Anton Gakkel	....	musician
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra coordinator
Alberto Iglesias	....	conductor
Sona Jobarteh	....	musician: Kora Player
Skaila Kanga	....	musician
Peter Lale	....	musician
Christopher Laurence	....	musician (as Chris Laurence)
Laurence Love Greed	....	assistant engineer (as Lawrence Greed)
Ara Malikian	....	musician: violin
Julia Malkova	....	musician: viola
Pablo Martín	....	musician
Charlotte Matthews	....	assistant orchestra coordinator
Perry Montague Mason	....	musician: violin
Martin Robertson	....	musician

Other crew
Rafa Bautista	....	coach: Lluís Homar
Yuyi Beringola	....	script supervisor
Gabi Díaz Bermejo	....	production apprentice
Verónica Díaz	....	production coordinator
Lola García	....	assistant to director
Almudena Gómez	....	advisor
Javier Heras	....	trainer
Virginia Lacorzana	....	script supervisor
Rafael Lorenzo	....	advisor
Fernando Lueches	....	personal assistant to director
Marina López	....	trainer
Cecilia Maric	....	production secretary
Gonzalo Mendiburu	....	additional production runner
Marina H. Molini	....	production assistant
Yuriria Montero	....	production secretary
Liliana Niespial	....	international relations assistant
Deborah Palomo	....	press (as Débora Palomo)
Bárbara Peiró	....	manager: international affairs (as Bárbara Peiró)
Pilar Pérez	....	cashier
Mercedes Selgas	....	production accountant

Thanks
John Galliano	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (in association with)
• Canal+ España (with the participation of)
• El Deseo S.A. (presents)
• Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) (financing provided by)
• Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) (in association with)
• Lanzarote Reserva de Biosfera (with the participation of)
• Ministerio de Cultura (in association with)
• Televisión Española (TVE) (with the participation of)

Distributors

• ACME (2009) (Latvia) (theatrical)
• Acme Film (2009) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2009) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Continental Film (2009) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2010) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Kitokio kino klubas (2011) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2009) (Ireland) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Sony Pictures Releasing Canada (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• El Deseo S.A. (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Empire (2009) (Romania) (DVD)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Monopole-Pathé (2009) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Pathé (2009) (France) (all media)
• Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas (2009) (Portugal) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2009) (Romania) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2009) (Sweden) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome International (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Norge (2009) (Norway) (all media)
• Shochiku Company (2010) (Japan) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Twin Pics (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2009) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Pictures do Brasil (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2010) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Premier PR  publicity (Cannes and UK)
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded at
• Cata Studios  music mixed at
• La Bocina  sound post-production
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Technicolor  release printing

Also Known As:

"Los abrazos rotos" - Spain (original title)
"Broken Hugs" - USA (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:15A | USA:R (certificate #45474) | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:M | France:U | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-11 | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Japan:PG12 | Singapore:M18 | Mexico:B15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Hong Kong:IIB | Sweden:Btl | Australia:M | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Arucas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Company:

Universal Pictures International (UPI)

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.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the end of the movie, during Matteo remakes the video, we see two chairs in old video record which are made by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola for Italian furniture brand Moroso (Antibodi chaise lounge - produced in 2006). While Lena was going to open the door for red dress woman there behind we can see each of them. And also outside in the terrace we can see another chair designed by P. Urquiola for Moroso (Tropicalia chair - produced in 2009). But from 1990 to 1996 P. Urquiola was the assistant professor to Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli at the Politecnico Di Milano and ENSCI in Paris.

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...

Movie Connections:

References Peeping Tom (1960)

Soundtrack:

A ciegas

A Potpourri of Vestiges Review: Pedro Almodóvar's homage to film-making

Pedro Almodóvar's Broken Embraces (2009) is a strange yet intriguing work of cinema. A heartbreaking tale of love, Broken Embraces highlight's the Spanish filmmaker's love for filmmaking as well the medium, which is underlined by the following line spoken by the movie's protagonist: "No, what matters is to finish it. Films have to be finished, even if you do it blindly." Almodóvar is not the first filmmaker to pay homage to cinema. Time and time again, filmmakers have used their films to express their overwhelming love for the medium: be it Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, Giuseppe Tornatore, Abbas Kiarostami, Robert Altman, or Martin Scorsese.

Broken Embraces (2009) is far from being a masterpiece. In fact, it's not even Almodóvar's best film, but it does have its moments that are enough to make it worthy of a watch. Almodóvar seems to have perfected his unique style by borrowing bits and pieces from the masters of cinema. Those who have followed Alfred Hitchcock's body of work closely would know that sex and humor were two of his major elements. And Almodóvar, a great fan of the Master of Suspense, too relies heavily on these two powerful elements often blending them with an equally potent weapon: social commentary. And like Hitchcock, Almodóvar loves to revisit his old works in an effort to further refine his quaint yet effective ideas. In fact, it is not very difficult for the keen-eyed viewers to spot the recurring patterns in Pedro Almodóvar's films, just like in Hitchcock's. And Broken Embraces is no different in this regard with the ever so ambitious Almodóvar trying to borrow and improvise upon certain ideas from his breakthrough film, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988).

While the comparisons between Hitchcock and Almodóvar are endless, one similarity that just cannot be overlooked is their insatiable love for technical mastery. There is a brilliant sequence in Broken Embraces that that underlines the remarkable quality of editing (and technical excellence) in Almodóvar's films. In the very scene, a rotating CD can be seen fading into a cylindrical staircase as the movie's protagonist climbs down the stairs. The scene is highly reminiscent of the editing techniques employed by Hitchcock in one of his early masterpieces: Sabotage (1936).

Overall, Broken Embraces, at best, serves to be a guilty pleasure. Almodóvar's obsession to experiment with his old ideas in trying to embed them into the new ones ends up overloading the film with at least one excessive plot line. The best ways to savor Broken Embraces is to either treat it as a homage to filmmaking or to look upon it as a exercise in style. Regardless of the excesses, Broken Embraces will prove to be a great film viewing experience for Almodóvar fans and also for those who understand and appreciate powerful world cinema. 7/10

For more, please visit my film blogsite:

http://www.apotpourriofvestiges.com/