Pain and Glory

Plagued by health issues romantic recluse Salvador Mallo is forced to reconnect and revisit his past personal and professional life as SABOR a film from his early career is prepared for re-release. The style and vibrancy of the sets and cinematography provide both a reflection of his past life and stark contrast to the depression he now struggles with.

Largely based on Almodóvar’s own life and featuring a great performance from Antonio Banderas, it is interesting to consider the autobiographical nature of this film as the bittersweet story of a master director at the twilight of his career reflecting on his past unfolds in front of us.

97% – Rotten Tomatoes
7.6 – IMDB

“While still embracing the visual facades that make his films such a pleasure to watch, Pain and Glory finds him stripping away the emotional facades, bringing us closer to him than ever before.”

“A masterful, melancholy, tender, lacerating self-examination, filled with colour and light and the ghosts of those he has loved. Almodovar at 70, and perhaps astonishing to himself, continues to grow.”

Film review: Bittersweet perfection from Pedro Almodovar – The Guardian