The great Pedro Almodovar returns with an unseasonal tale set across two timelines. In 2004, Elsa (Bárbara Lennie) is a failed film director, working in advertising until she gets another chance. Her mother dies during a long December holiday. Too busy working, she does not find time to mourn. Then, after a crisis, she decides to travel to the island of Lanzarote accompanied by her friend Patricia (Victoria Luengo), who also needs to get away from the city.
The story of these characters runs parallel to another, set in 2025, where film maker Raúl (Leonardo Sbaraglia) is writing the script of Elsa’s story. His assistant of more than 20 years, Mónica (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón), is forced to quit to look after her girlfriend.
As the film progresses, the similarities between Mónica’s and Elsa’s stories become more apparent. That set-up may seem over complicated or even confusing, but Almodovar is such a deft writer, he manages to pull it off. The different timelines mesh really well, with Elsa’s part dominating. That is not a problem as Lennie is superb as the complex character, who seems caring but may be only using people as inspiration for her writing. We also begin to see that Raúl, who has not got over his own mother’s death, is doing the same, with Sbaraglia also doing great work.
Almodovar’s more recent films have not been as well received as much of his earlier work, and I liked the pointed references to that in this screenplay. Whilst this does not reach the heights of his last movie set in the film business, his career masterpiece Pain and Glory, it is brilliantly acted and beautifully structured.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10