Cinephile Feature – Pain and Glory (Delor y gloria)

In one of his most personal works, Pedro Almodóvar presents a vivid portrait of a filmmaker confronting age-related anxieties.

Director Salvador Mallo (Antonio Banderas at his very best) is so preoccupied by various physiological and psychological ailments that he’s put his career on hold. Then a retrospective of his work leads him not only to remember his past, but to contact the long-estranged lead actor of an early seminal work… a troubled reunion with unexpected, fateful consequences.

Almodóvar, who also wrote the screenplay, is here at his most mature and reflective, exploring the lore of desire, creativity, addiction and memory through a single, somewhat self-centred character. Bold in its narrative structure, restrained yet expressive in its colours and compositions, and with intense, naturalistic performances, this is exemplary film artistry.  Cert 15

In Spanish with English sub-titles.  A must see for all cinephiles.