Filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar jumps back and forth in time to examine the life of his protagonist. In modern day, Salvador Mallo (Antonio Banderas) is a celebrated filmmaker whose best works are decades old, and is living with drug addiction and medical issues. As a child, he has his loving mother Jacinta (Penélope Cruz). They move into a cave home where he teaches beautiful illiterate bricklayer Eduardo how to read.
It's territories that Pedro had traveled over the years. It's a little flat for the first part. Quite frankly, it's only when the kid is with the bricklayer that I had the first chuckle. That seems to be the most compelling part of the story. The movie should be more about the childhood Pedro and give more time with Eduardo. His mother should be given more. The adult Pedro can be cut back. There are some fascinating scenes. The story is average semi-autobiographical. It feels familiar and offers little new. Pedro's fans should appreciate this work.
It's territories that Pedro had traveled over the years. It's a little flat for the first part. Quite frankly, it's only when the kid is with the bricklayer that I had the first chuckle. That seems to be the most compelling part of the story. The movie should be more about the childhood Pedro and give more time with Eduardo. His mother should be given more. The adult Pedro can be cut back. There are some fascinating scenes. The story is average semi-autobiographical. It feels familiar and offers little new. Pedro's fans should appreciate this work.