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Pain and Glory (2019)
Pain and Glory (2019)
2019 | Drama
Reflective drama from Pedro Almodóvar. An aging film director whose health is beginning to fail looks back upon key events and relationships from his life and contemplates his future. Clearly there is a semi-autobiographical element to this film, which is informed to a great extent by Almodóvar's own life - Bandera's character hasn't spoken to another character for decades, reflecting the twenty-year falling-out between Banderas and Almodóvar himself, while various other key collaborators appear in small roles.


More sober and introspective than many of the director's films, but made with the usual skill and subtlety; he hasn't lost his fondness for outrageous plot contrivances, either. In the end this is an arthouse drama, so perhaps not to all taste - but while this can be a bit slow and talky, it is also very satisfying, warm and humane.