Some films are weird beyond description. You could just call them unique or distinctive, but some are just plain odd. Pedro Almodóvar's Talk to Her is one of those films that, when it gets right down to it, is bizarre. Yet it is exactly that aspect of this film that makes it so memorable, albeit some of the memories are those I would rather forget.
The film really has four main characters, two of which are men and two of which are women. First is Benigno, a man who has lived almost his entire life taking care of a woman. The first woman in his care was his mother, and his constant attention toward her kept him from experiencing the real world. The woman in his care at a private clinic where he works is Alicia, a woman who has been in a coma for a long while. The full extent of Benigno and Alicia's relationship is developed on film, and it is indeed the oddest relationship ever to appear on screen. Javier Cámara's performance as Benigno is somewhat disturbing, but intriguing throughout.
Second is Marco, a journalist who is in essence the opposite of Benigno. Marco is one who has experienced the world around him, while Benigno is one who naively and curiously examines and experiences life because he knows so little about it. Marco is the boyfriend of Lydia, another woman who has fallen into a coma following a horrible accident. Their relationship is developed in a different method than that of Benigno and Alicia, but it too is intriguing nevertheless. Darío Grandinetti puts in a good performance as Marco, and the film continues to intrigue as the relationship between Marco and Benigno begins to develop as well.
Pedro Almodóvar's direction and screenplay are both incredible. He goes about things in such a away as to set himself apart from every other director and writer. It's hard to describe direction, but Almodóvar's is beautiful, colorful, and full of life. I do have a couple complaints, however. First, I do enjoy bizarre filming methods, but Almodóvar's examination of the female body and female pleasure no less than stained my mind with peculiar images that I could never forget even if I wanted to. Furthermore, I felt that, at points, the film progresses to quickly instead of allowing the viewer to soak up what he or she is witnessing on screen.
Overall, I've never seen a film so bizarre, yet so mysterious. I love Almodóvar's examination of life, and although the story is very complex, he somehow manages to remain focused on the many relationships and intricate characters he presents. There were moments of disgust for me, but there were also moments of great, yet subtle pleasures, such as the beautiful contrast between the beginning and the end of the film.
This definitely is not for all tastes, but if you're looking for something different, this is it.
Final Grade: B+.
The film really has four main characters, two of which are men and two of which are women. First is Benigno, a man who has lived almost his entire life taking care of a woman. The first woman in his care was his mother, and his constant attention toward her kept him from experiencing the real world. The woman in his care at a private clinic where he works is Alicia, a woman who has been in a coma for a long while. The full extent of Benigno and Alicia's relationship is developed on film, and it is indeed the oddest relationship ever to appear on screen. Javier Cámara's performance as Benigno is somewhat disturbing, but intriguing throughout.
Second is Marco, a journalist who is in essence the opposite of Benigno. Marco is one who has experienced the world around him, while Benigno is one who naively and curiously examines and experiences life because he knows so little about it. Marco is the boyfriend of Lydia, another woman who has fallen into a coma following a horrible accident. Their relationship is developed in a different method than that of Benigno and Alicia, but it too is intriguing nevertheless. Darío Grandinetti puts in a good performance as Marco, and the film continues to intrigue as the relationship between Marco and Benigno begins to develop as well.
Pedro Almodóvar's direction and screenplay are both incredible. He goes about things in such a away as to set himself apart from every other director and writer. It's hard to describe direction, but Almodóvar's is beautiful, colorful, and full of life. I do have a couple complaints, however. First, I do enjoy bizarre filming methods, but Almodóvar's examination of the female body and female pleasure no less than stained my mind with peculiar images that I could never forget even if I wanted to. Furthermore, I felt that, at points, the film progresses to quickly instead of allowing the viewer to soak up what he or she is witnessing on screen.
Overall, I've never seen a film so bizarre, yet so mysterious. I love Almodóvar's examination of life, and although the story is very complex, he somehow manages to remain focused on the many relationships and intricate characters he presents. There were moments of disgust for me, but there were also moments of great, yet subtle pleasures, such as the beautiful contrast between the beginning and the end of the film.
This definitely is not for all tastes, but if you're looking for something different, this is it.
Final Grade: B+.