Penelope Cruz Shines in Broken Embraces
Penélope Cruz reunites with director Pedro Almodóvar in Spanish film noir *** Three Stars
By Jennifer Huber
Penélope Cruz love triangle, Broken Embraces
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 12/15/2009 – “I feel very lucky to have Pedro with us for a couple months, rehearsing with all of us, the entire cast,” says Broken Embraces star Penélope Cruz. “We tried every scene in many different ways.”
“It’s an adventure to be there and be in his hands, to see how he does that with other actors,” says Cruz. “It’s a very particular way of working. Some people might not adapt to that, but for me it’s been great every time. At the same time that he’s being very picky and tough and specific, he’s also protecting me.”
“I’ve always dreamed of making a film whose story is seen through a ‘making of’,” says director Broken Embraces Pedro Almodóvar. “I feel it’s the first time I’ve made such an express declaration of love to cinema, not with a specific sequence, but with a whole film…to cinema, to its materials, to the people who give all they’ve got around the spotlights, to the actors, editors, narrators, those who write, to the screens which show the images of intrigues and emotions, to something that, although you can make a living from it, is not only a profession but also an irrational passion.”
Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film Broken Embraces pairs him again with Penélope Cruz in a Spanish language film noir. Distributed by Sony Classics, the beautiful film centers on Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar), Lena (Penélope Cruz) and Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez). The three form a love triangle that, by the end, leaves all in ruins.
Lena becomes the lover of rich businessman Ernesto after her father’s medical bills become too much for her. Bored with her life, Lena goes for an acting audition for Mateo Blanco’s new film and at first sight the two fall for each other. After an accident takes both Lena and his sight away from him, Mateo leaves behind his past life and adopts his pen name of Harry Caine to deal with the losses.
“Mateo, Lena and Ernesto Senior make up a typical noir trio,” says Almodóvar. “The three love fiercely and one is very powerful, violent and unscrupulous. Combustion is served. The trio is flanked by Judit Garcia, who brings treachery, a secret son and a guilt complex to the group, ingredients that will make the relationship between the four even thicker.”
Judit (Blanca Portillo) is Mateo’s business manager and onetime lover. Her son Diego (Tamar Novas) writes with Mateo. The story becomes even more complex with the addition of Ernesto’s son (Rubén Ochandiano). He films Lena with his own camera during the film shoot and provides the footage to his father. That entangles all the characters in a nasty conflict.
Penélope Cruz lights up the screen in this film and puts on a stellar performance. Almodóvar does a fantastic job establishing the characters and the interactions between them. The movie within a movie is interesting and never confusing.
Broken Embraces was shot entirely in Spain.
Broken Embraces
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Running time: 128 minutes
Release Date: Los Angeles: December 11, 2009, New York: November 20, 2009
MPAA rating: Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material