Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Perhaps the best-known Spanish filmmaker to international audiences, Pedro Almod var gained the widespread attention of English-speaking critics and fans with the Oscar-nominated
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and the celebrated dark comedy
Tie Me Up Tie Me Down .
Marvin D'Lugo offers a concise, informed, and insightful commentary on a preeminent force in modern cinema. D'Lugo follows Almod var's career chronologically, tracing the director's works and their increasing complexity in terms of theme and the Spanish film tradition. Drawing on a wide range of critical sources, D'Lugo explores Almod var's use of melodrama and Hollywood genre film, his self-invention as a filmmaker, and his on-screen sexual politics. D'Lugo also discusses what he calls "geocultural positioning," that is, Almod var's paradoxical ability to use his marginal positions--in terms of his class, geographical origin, and identity--to develop an expressive language that is emotionally recognizable by audiences worldwide. Two fascinating interviews with the director round out the volume.
An exciting consideration of an arthouse giant, Pedro Almod var mixes original interpretations into an analysis sure to reward film students and specialists alike.
Synopsis
In Pedro Almodovar, Marvin D'Lugo offers a concise, informed, and insightful commentary on the man who has become a preeminent force in modern cinema and by far the best known Spanish filmmaker among English-speaking audiences. D'Lugo follows Almodovar's career chronologically as he moves from amateur to international celebrity, analyzing the films' increasing complexity in terms of the director's central themes within the context of Spanish film tradition. D'Lugo considers wide ranging critical sources and develops recognized Almodovar themes in exciting new ways, including his use of melodrama and Hollywood genre film, his self invention as a filmmaker, and his on-screen sexual politics. D'Lugo also discusses what he calls "geocultural positioning": Almodovar's paradoxical ability to use his marginal positions (in terms of his class, geographical origin, and identity) to develop an expressive language that is emotionally recognizable by audiences worldwide. Including two interviews with the director and original interpretations of his most recent films, Pedro Almodovar will reward new film students and specialists alike.