Pedro Almodovar
Pedro Almoldovar was born in 1949 in Calzada de Calatrava in the
Castilla la Mancha region of central Spain. Since his film
making debut in the eighties he's written, directed and acted in
more than thirty films and can easily lay claim to the title of
Spain's greatest living film director.
Famed for his use of melodrama and his labyrinthine plots, his
films have never shied away from serious subject matter -
homosexuality, transvestitism and death (particularly death by
AIDS) have all popped up as themes throughout his work.
Almodovar also likes to use marginalised, socially ostracised
characters and groups in his films. It is this hunger for the
unconventional that has made people take note of his work. In
many respects his films were a response to the decades of
oppression under the dictatorship of Franco and Almodovar was at
the forefront of an artistic movement that was free to express
itself for the first time since the Civil War.
In 2004 the controversial director launched his most recent film
at the Cannes film festival. "Bad Education" drew on the
directors own experiences at a catholic school during the
sixties. The film confronts the sexual abuse of the boys by the
teachers and also the homoerotic love of two young students. The
film was met with universal acclaim and cemented Almodovar's
position at the forefront of world cinema.
The films success followed on the back of the acclaim of his two
previous directorial efforts. "All About My Mother" was released
in 1999 to high praise from critics and cinema goers alike; it
was a candid story that showed a softer more mature side to
Almodovar's direction and continued his use of women and the
idea of sisterhood that is prevalent in many of his works.
Almodovar later dedicated the film to "all mothers and any
actress who's ever played a mother" and the Spaniard picked up
numerous awards at home and abroad including his first Oscar for
"Best overseas film". In 2002 Almodovar released "Talk to Her"
to similar rave reviews and critical acclaim and the film earned
him his second Oscar for "Best screenplay".
Before this golden period in Almodovar's career, many thought
that his talents had lost their direction. His films of the late
80's and 90's had come in for some fairly heavy criticism and
had been the cause of some fairly fierce debate in cinematic
circles. "Tie me up, Tie me Down", "High Heels" and "Kiki". Some
were lambasted for their supposed misogynistic undertones
including a shocking rape scene from "Kiki". "Tie me up, Tie me
down" also came in for some heavy criticism from women's groups
for it's portrayal of a women who falls in love with her
kidnapper.
Almodovar also famously gave a first acting role to Antonio
Banderas in his 1987 film "Law of Desire". Banderas also took on
the lead role in the aforementioned "Tie me Up, Tie me down".
Banderas later moved to Hollywood where he achieved great fame
as his career blossomed.
Amoldovar is currently shooting his latest offering due for
release in 2006; it's entitled "Volver" ("Filming" in English)
and will star Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz, one of Spain's
most successful daughters. At the moment it seems as if the
Spaniard can do no wrong and he's acclaimed as one of the best
film makers in the world today having produced many films that
are already viewed as cinematic classics. At age 55, it's clear
that the man has still got a lot to offer and we could still be
watching his creations for many years to come.