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Pedro Almodovar
By Mike McDougall
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.
About the Author
Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currently working to provide additional content for http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/, a Spanish language school with an excellent presence in Spain and Latin America.
This work is covered by a creative commons licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/uk/
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