Pedro Almodovar of Spain has the reputation of being one of the world's great directors and though this is the only one of his films that I have seen, judging by it he deserves the acclaim. Talk to Her' is the work of a master, one who knows when to be restrained and when to be passionate, one who has written and directed a film that shines with maturity and quality.
Talk to Her'is about two men in love with women who are in comas. Marco is a journalist who has an affair with Lydia, a female bullfighter and emotional wreck. One day she comes off the worst in a bullfight and ends up in hospital with brain damage. Also at the hospital is Alicia, a beautiful young dancer who injured her head in a car crash and her nurse Benigno, who has fallen in love with her. They are very different men Marco is tall, handsome and assured while Benigno is short, plain and a virgin at 30 but they become friends. As the movie progresses we find out about their pasts and the similarities and differences in their relationships with the comatose women. Then Benigno does something that leaves him with no one to turn to,except Marco.
The plot could have been material for a bad tearjerker, but Almodovar is more subtle than that Talk to Her' is poignant rather than weepy, lightened by touches of humour and has a couple of surprises that remind us that life and people are, for better or worse, unpredictable. I find anying to criticize in the acting or cinematography, and the music is wonderful all of which does lead to a short review! It does not have as many really powerful scenes as other great movies I have seen, but Talk to Her' is touching and except for one overly-explicit silent movie sequence, flawless. It will be enjoyed by anyone who can handle subtitles and has a taste for romantic dramas.
8/10
Talk to Her'is about two men in love with women who are in comas. Marco is a journalist who has an affair with Lydia, a female bullfighter and emotional wreck. One day she comes off the worst in a bullfight and ends up in hospital with brain damage. Also at the hospital is Alicia, a beautiful young dancer who injured her head in a car crash and her nurse Benigno, who has fallen in love with her. They are very different men Marco is tall, handsome and assured while Benigno is short, plain and a virgin at 30 but they become friends. As the movie progresses we find out about their pasts and the similarities and differences in their relationships with the comatose women. Then Benigno does something that leaves him with no one to turn to,except Marco.
The plot could have been material for a bad tearjerker, but Almodovar is more subtle than that Talk to Her' is poignant rather than weepy, lightened by touches of humour and has a couple of surprises that remind us that life and people are, for better or worse, unpredictable. I find anying to criticize in the acting or cinematography, and the music is wonderful all of which does lead to a short review! It does not have as many really powerful scenes as other great movies I have seen, but Talk to Her' is touching and except for one overly-explicit silent movie sequence, flawless. It will be enjoyed by anyone who can handle subtitles and has a taste for romantic dramas.
8/10
