I've seen most of Almodovar's movies up to "High Heels," but none since. I wasn't prepared for the leap he's made - "Talk to Her" has a depth of emotion and empathy I didn't think he was capable of. His senses of humor and color are present, though muted - they flow from, rather than impose themselves on, the characters.
I was most impressed by the tactile quality of the photography, especially of the fabrics. I could almost feel the hospital sheets and the ties of Alicia's gown; the brocade and velvet of Lydia's toreador outfit; the silks of the dancers' slips... I can't recall ever getting that sort of a sensation from a film.
"Talk to Her" is, like Almodovar's earlier movies, sensuous, defiantly politically incorrect, and curious about love and desire in all their manifestations. This time, though, there's a stillness and emotional richness that bring the work to another level. I'm certainly going to catch up on his mid-to-late 90s work, starting with "All About My Mother," to find out how he got from there to here.
I was most impressed by the tactile quality of the photography, especially of the fabrics. I could almost feel the hospital sheets and the ties of Alicia's gown; the brocade and velvet of Lydia's toreador outfit; the silks of the dancers' slips... I can't recall ever getting that sort of a sensation from a film.
"Talk to Her" is, like Almodovar's earlier movies, sensuous, defiantly politically incorrect, and curious about love and desire in all their manifestations. This time, though, there's a stillness and emotional richness that bring the work to another level. I'm certainly going to catch up on his mid-to-late 90s work, starting with "All About My Mother," to find out how he got from there to here.