Picture of the movie Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory ) © DR
Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory): reflections of Almódovar
Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory): a sixth film in Competition for the director who was the President of the Feature Film Jury in 2017's 70th edition of the Festival. Starring Antonio Banderas as a brooding anti-hero, this 'masculine' film is a fresh take on the autobiographical genre, with glimpses of Pedro Almodóvar himself shining through in the reclusive, maudlin director protagonist.
Following on from 1987's La ley del deseo (Law of Desire) and 2003's La mala educación (Bad Education), Pedro Almodóvar's latest feature film is the third volume and natural continuation of a trilogy that began thirty years ago now, offering up a masculine vision of desire and film-making. After an unforgettable performance in Átame (Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!) (1990), Antonio Banderas plays Salvador Mallo, a director reunited with people from his past, thus triggering memories of his earliest emotional upheavals, from childhood experiences to the excitement of his glory days. This trip down memory lane is partially inspired by real-life elements: The music that formed the backdrop to Pedro Almodóvar's childhood, his own works of art, a replica of his apartment, his hairstyle, his clothing and accessories. Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory) is a fleeting snapshot of a portrait of the filmmaker, as fictional as it is true to life.
“When you write about a filmmaker (and you yourself are a filmmaker), it’s impossible not to draw on your own life for inspiration.”
The film gives pride of place to male actors (Asier Etxeandia, Leonardo Sbaraglia) while simultaneously offering a handful of delectable, maternal supporting roles to Penelope Cruz, Julieta Serrano, Nora Navas as the protagonist's loyal assistant and Cecilia Roth in a delightful appearance.
The Spanish director was reunited with his faithful band of collaborators: Alberto Iglesias, who has been composing for him ever since La flor de mi secreto (The Flower of My Secret) (1995), and the supremely talented José Luis Alcaine handling the lighting. After Todo sobre mi madre (All About My Mother), which won Best Director Award in 1999 and Volver, the winner of 2006's Best Screenplay Award, Pedro Almodóvar is back at the Festival in full, nostalgic force.
