Pedro Almodóvar

Pedro Almodóvar (born on September 24, 1949 in Calzada de Calatrava, Spain) is a Spanish filmmaker. Since making his first commercial film in the 1980s, he has written, directed, acted and produced nearly 30 films. His films are centred around relationships that occur around improbable circumstances and are accompanied by melodrama and high camp.

Career

His first commercial film was shown in 1980, although he had been making short Super 8 or 16 mm films since long before. Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón (English title: Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls from the heap) was shot over eighteen months. Since then, he has written and directed many films and has also acted and produced.

Related Topics:
1980 - Super 8 - 16 mm - Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón

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Almodóvar is best known for his use of melodrama, improbable circumstances and high camp in his movies. However, a theme that recurs in his work is the connections and/or the desire to connect with others. His characters, in all their many forms, are attempting to 'come home', to find safety, fulfillment and love with those around them to dispel an almost universal loneliness. Through his use of intellectually and socially marginal characters, Almodóvar is able to take the search for fulfillment to extremes that mainstream society seldom tolerates. The extreme actions undertaken by his characters, like the kidnap and seduction of a woman by a recently released mental patient (played by Antonio Banderas) in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! drives home the point that the urge to be with someone is sometimes strong enough to merit drastic action.

Related Topics:
Melodrama - High camp - Antonio Banderas - Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

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