Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos)Directed By: Pedro Almodovar
2009, Spain
Nominated for the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Starring Penelope Cruz
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Review of Los abrazos rotos
ReplyDeleteEscrito por: Joseph Roskos
The movie Los abrazos rotos tells the tale of a comedic, yet serious love affair between two of the main characters, Lena Rivas, played by Penelope Cruz, and “Harry Caine,” also known as Mateo Blanco, played by Lluís Homar, which takes the viewer through a series of twists and turns which carry various themes throughout the movie such as jealousy and lust. The character “Ray X,” son of the millionaire Ernesto Martel, at an early age, aspires to become a film director who takes interest in the director Mateo Blanco. His desire to become a film director sets the movie in motion as he captures the evidence of a possible love affair between Mateo Blanco and Lena Rivas, who aspires to become an actress, and has risen to that role through her association with Ernesto Martel, who is her lover although she is uninterested in him partly because of his old age. Essentially, the eventual struggle between Ernesto Martel and Mateo Blanco over who shall “have” Lenas Rivas leads to disorder in their lives, for Ernesto feels that he is the true suitor for Lenas due to the fact that he had paid for the medical costs that her father had required and he loves her also, whereas Mateo believes that love cannot be bought and feels that his love for Lenas is truer than Mateo’s love for Lenas. Hence, it appears that the dismay which is created within this love triangle is caused by the jealousy of both Mateo and Ernesto and also the ambitions and beauty of Lenas. In addition, Mateo Blanco’s agent, Judit, played by Blanca Portillo, finds that she has been ignored by Mateo, as she loves him, and hence is jealous that Lenas has distracted him from her, which causes Judit to betray his trust in the movie. Although, the film may seem to be confusing at different moments, the seemingly estranged puzzle pieces eventually come together and make sense of the complex plot of the story. Overall, the movie is satisfactory and warrants a viewing of it by any curious person.
Response to Broken Embraces
ReplyDeleteEscrito por: Catherine Weaver
Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, the 2009 Spanish film Broken Embraces was an emotionally power piece of art. The plot and story of the movie is profound and intelligently written. But it is the response to the action and context of the film which evoked the most significant, personal reaction.
Mateo Blanco, an author and film director, is in love with a beautiful actress who walks into his life as she auditions for the lead role of his newest film. The conflict begins to arise from their very first meeting, as both characters fall deeply and passionately in love. Yet Lena is all but married to the wealthy tyrant, Ernesto Martel. Ernesto’s barbaric jealousy and desperate need for control creates the drama of the movie. Non-the-less, the intimate love of Lena and Mateo progresses on and off set during the making of Mateo’s film and comes to a climax when the couple leave for retreat of Ernesto’s physical abuse toward Lena. The two spend a substantial amount of time discovering each other while Ernesto spitefully alters the work of Mateo’s film; ultimately destroying its power and releasing it as a low-quality work. This draws Mateo and Lena back into their previous lives, but en route to the city their car is struck and Lena does not survive. Mateo becomes Harry Caine, a blind author who cannot cope with his past and lost love. Thus he finally sheds his previous name and all of its recognition. When the son of Ernesto visits Harry 14 years later to inform him of his father’s death, the past resurfaces and through Harry’s acceptance of it, he finally comes to terms with the history of his final movie, his previous life, and his lost love, Lena.
The storyline of Broken Embraces, although profound and enlightening, may not be as substantial as the response which it evoked. I found the movie to be extremely moving. The sting of a pained and tragic love speaks to most that may be privileged to see the movie. But the underlying contexts of uncontrollable human emotion, of the power of creativity, and the testing of relationships and friendships are all combined in this film. Each moved me personally, and each subtext is intricately intertwined with the other. The product of which is a very powerful, rater unforgettable experience. This film was perhaps my favorite of the Monday Night film series thus far.