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 Mánver | ... | Madame Mylene | |
Lola Dueñas | ... | Lectora de labios | |
Mariola Fuentes | ... | Edurne | |
Carmen Machi | ... | Chon | |
Kira Miró | ... | Modelo | |
Rossy de Palma | ... | Julieta | |
Alejo Sauras | ... | Álex |
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>
Pedro Almodovar's latest, "Broken Embraces," is like a high-class telenovela for the art-house crowd.
Its love triangle - involving a film director (Lluis Homar), his gorgeous lead actress (Penelope Cruz) and her elderly, abusive boyfriend (Jose Luis Gomez) who's financing the film on which they're working - spans the period from 1994 to 2008. In the present time, the financier, Ernesto Martel, has just died, while the director, Mateo Blanco, who has since become blind, has plans for writing another film. But what's become of Lena, the girl of both of their dreams, in the intervening years?
Structurally, the movie divides its focus fairly evenly between the two time periods. The intricately plotted narrative unravels like a conventional mystery story, with clues being dropped in at key moments and character connections and motivations becoming ever more clearly defined as the movie goes on.
This isn't prime Almodovar, by any means, but the customary florid melodrama, color-rich palette and elegant direction make it a worthy addition to the director's oeuvre.