A big hit both in Spain and in America in 1988, Women... is about the 7th Almodóvar movie I've seen, after enjoying Bad Education, Volver, Tie Me Up Tie Me Down, etc. Described on the box as a farce, the film features regular Almodóvar stars Carmen Maura and a young Antonio Banderas - the former goes a bit deranged when her lover seemingly cuts her loose. What follows is a typically odd collection of characters drinking drugged gazpacho, soap-opera style histrionics and a final act chase sequence in a bizarrely furnished taxi.
brilliant...
This certainly had Almodóvar's charming off-kilter feel to it, with some funny moments and a tour de force turn from Maura.
but...
Sadly the laughs were not very frequent and I found the whole thing disappointing. After watching the introduction by a film expert, gushing about the story, the hilarity and the movie references, I realised that this is the sort of film that you might study for influences in a film studies class - unfortunately this didn't translate into something particularly easily accessible and enjoyable. And thus I was surprised that it did so well in the American markets. I can't put my finger on what it was I didn't enjoy... I just found the 'farce' strangely paced and the expected laughs thin on the ground.
briefly...
A real treat... if you're a proper serious film buff. I know movies, but not enough to spot Hitchcockian references in Spanish cinema. Oh well, hopefully I'll have better luck with the next Almodóvar we watch.
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