This Sunday, some friends and I went to see Pedro Almodóvar’s new movie Los abrazos rotos (Broken Embraces), starring Penélope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Blanca Portillo, & alii. It was good, not as good as Almodóvar can be, but I left very satisfied despite its sometimes difficult-to-follow presentation and plot.

Mateo (Lluis Homar) is a screenwriter and director. He is also named Harry. He was involved with Lena (Penélope Cruz) in 1994, who was the star of his film. Lena was also the live-in mistress of Enrique Martel (José Luis Gómez), who is the movie’s producer. Martel is obsessive, jealous and violent and causes a car crash in which Lena is killed and Mateo is blinded. From then on he uses the pseudonym Harry Caine. In 2009, Harry receives a visit from Martel’s son, Enrique Martel (Rubén Ochandiano), aka Ray X, which prompts Mateo/Harry to recount the story to his son Alex (Alejo Sauras). Oops, we don’t know Alex is his son yet (even though it’s So Obvious). For now he’s the son of Judit (Blanca Portillo), who’s his longtime friend.

¿Entendido?

It was pretty hard to follow on screen, because it was presented in a very non-linear fashion, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from Almodóvar. What we have here is a culebrón, a soap opera.

(Linguistic aside: culebrón means ‘soap opera’ but literally translates as ‘big snake’. i can’t think of a better example of why every language is unique and can’t be replaced by another. While culebrón and ‘soap opera’ might have the same referent, they both are terms that carry very different stories of how that referent is perceived by the speaker and by the speaker’s culture. Language preservation. Very important. Now, we return to our feature presentation…)

Like I said, it was good. Not his best, but he’s made some pretty questionable films before, so it was far from his worst. Penélope Cruz was stunningly gorgeous and a wonderful actress, sicut semper. She was even good in the train wreck that was Vicky Cristina Barcelona (won’t go there). My friend commented that she was probably even good in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, though I don’t think either of us care to put that to the test by actually watching it.

The main thing I was struck by as I left the theatre was how much darker than normal the movie was for Almodóvar. That might be a surprising assertion to make, given the average Almodóvar film. In his last four films we have death from AIDS, death of a child, persistent vegetative states, rape, incest, pedophilia, suicide, parricide, and much, much more! But Almodóvar’s style, and I would say Almodóvar’s genius, is to present all of these subjects in a near comedic light, without detracting from the seriousness of the subjects (though, I will admit, every serious criticism of Almodóvar I’ve heard has had to do with him making light of horrific events; but I don’t agree with that). Perhaps he’s taken some of that criticism to heart, because inasmuch as Almodóvar can, he tends to present the more terrible elements of this story in a very blunt way. Take a look at the trailer to get an idea of the tone:

Dark? Dark!

The movie wasn’t, however, without its lighter moments. Some of the interaction between Mateo/Harry and his Judit’s son Alex was very entertaining, especially when discussing a potential vampire movie they’d write together. The lightest part of the movie, and possibly the best part of the movie, is the film-within-a-film that they are making.

As Almodóvar has progressed in his work, making several iconic films and working with several iconic actors and actresses, he has referenced himself more and more in his own work. It was in that strain, then, that the film-within-a-film was actually Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), Almodóvar’s 1988 comedic gem. Lena (Cruz) plays the role originally played by Carmen Maura, and the other actresses are some of the same from the original film, a little worse for wear twenty years on. Entire scenes are reënacted. Loved it.

Another Almodóvar trope present in this film are some underdeveloped characters. At his best, he avoids this, but this is part of why Los abrazos rotos isn’t his best movie.

First, we have Mateo’s Harry’s Judit’s son Alex. Most of his screen time is pretty contrived. His presense is almost entirely used either as someone to whom Mateo/Harry can tell his story, or to set this up. Perhaps I feel like they should have paid more attention to him because he’s played by hot Majorcan actor Alejo Sauras. Such eye candy deserves a better part. Isn’t that what filmmaking is all about?!

The other underdeveloped character was Enrique Martel’s son, Enrique Martel, aka Ray X (Rubén Ochandiano). So many names! First off, he’s a huge creep. This isn’t a problem, except that it draws a lot of attention to a character who doesn’t really do much in the movie. He’s also the film’s only gay character, and he’s pretty much a walking stereotype. Effeminate, scheming, inscrutable. He might as well be a character from Cruising, or that ugly, unhappy man from Boys in the Band. From any other director, I would be offended. Almodóvar has enough complex characters in his films that I can trust him not to be ignorant or harbor ill-will. Plus, he looks for the campy elements in everyone. Still, I left the movie wondering why we didn’t get a little more complete a picture of this one character, given the amount of attention he gets.

One thing that Almodóvar does very well is endings. In Volver, Penélope Cruz stands with her daughter, mother and sister over her husband’s grave – her husband who was killed by her daughter after trying to rape her. The moment is filled with all the suffering that this family has undergone, but Penélope Cruz and her daughter still find a moment to note that this spot by the river is beautiful, and that he must be happy that this is his final resting place. In a similar way, Los abrazos rotos ends summing up all of the suffering of the movie, while still communicating resilience, hope and satisfaction with the outcomes of one’s labor. Dark, but even then you can find a way to smile.

He decidit que fins it tot les regles vagues que m’hi vaig posar a l’entrada prèvia vàren esser massa exigents per a mi.  Idò escriuré damunt el tema que em vé al cap, en la llengua que vull (probablement alternant entre l’anglès i el català).  M’agrada la lingüística, la política, la política lingüística, la cultura popular, entre d’altres coses, així que potser podem esperar coses d’aquest tipus.

He fallat terriblement en actualitzar aquest blog regularment durant els passats mesos.  Això ha passat per algunes raons, en primer perquè no he pogut viatjar tant que volia degut a raons econòmiques – que faria difícil mantenir un blog dedicat a les fotos de viatges.  Idò, he decidit canviar el format del blog a esser una combinació de fotos i alguns pensaments damunt qüestions polítiques i socials aquí a Mallorca a partir de les meves experiències.  I quelcom de viatjar quan pugui.

El Ferrocarril de Sóller

And, as always, in English and Catalan

I, com sempre, en anglès i català

The second part takes us to Bunker Hill, which you might not even notice in the above photo. The skyscrapers are actually on top of it, appearing taller than they are. Originally a residential area, its buildings are now almost entirely for business, except for Disney Hall and the Music Center, as well as a few apartment buildings.

La segona part ens duu a Bunker Hill, que potser ni tan sols notes a la foto de dalt. Els gratacels són en realitat damunt d’ell. Originalment un barri de residències, els seus edificis són gairebé tots negocis, amb l’excepció de Disney Hall i el Centre de Música i uns quants apartments.

Angels Flight, the only remnant of old Bunker Hill, a funicular that takes people from the base of the hill to the top ~ Angel’s Flight (Vol de l’Àngel), l’única cosa que roman del vell Bunker Hill, un funicular que duu a la gent des d’abaix al cim.

Chile vendors at the Central Market by Angel’s Flight ~ Venedors de pebrots al Mercat Central al costat de Angel’s Flight

“El pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles sobre el río de Porciúncula”

Staircase between 5th street (below) and 4th street (above) ~ Escalera entre el carrer 5 (de baix) i el carrer 4 (de dalt)

Los Angeles Central Library from the staircase ~ La Biblioteca Central de Los Angeles des de l’escalera

The Library’s tower from 4th Street ~ La torre de la Biblioteca des del carrer 4

Grand Ave tunnel under the peak ~ túnel de Grand Ave sota el cim

Disney Hall

Robert Graham’s Virgin Mary at the entrance of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Bunker Hill ~ La Verge Maria d’en Robert Graham a l’entrada de la catedral de Nostra Senyora dels Ángels a Bunker Hill

Silver Lake Reservoir ~ Embassament de Silver Lake (Llac de Plata)

This is the first part of a series that shows the picturesque hill neighborhoods that surround and make up the downtown area and its immediate surroundings. This post shows some views of Silver Lake and Echo Park, perhaps the best known hill neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Aquesta és la primera part d’una sèrie que mostra els barris de pujol pintorescs que envolten i formen part el centre de la ciutat i les zones immediatament al voltant. Aquesta actualització mostra qualques vistes de Silver Lake (Llac de Plata) i Echo Park (Parc de l’Eco), potser els més coneguts dels barris de pujol a Los Angeles.

Micheltorena Ave looking towards the Los Angeles basin ~ Micheltorena Ave cap al pla de Los Angeles

Micheltorena Ave looking north toward the City of Glendale ~ Micheltorena Ave mirant al nord, cap a la ciutat de Glendale

Between Silver Lake and Echo Park looking towards Downtown ~ Entre Silver Lake i Echo Park cap al centre

Echo Park, whence cometh the name of the neighborhood ~ Parc de l’Eco, d’on vé el nom del barri

A row of Victorian Homes on Carroll Ave, last remnants of what was once a very affluent neighborhood ~ Una fila de cases victorianes a Carroll Ave, el que roman del que una vegada era un barri ric

A more typical Echo Park scene ~ Una escena més típic a Echo Park

murs de l’Alhambra ~ walls of the Alhambra

Albaicín, barri més vell de la ciutat ~ Albaicín, oldest part of the city

jardins de l’Alhambra ~ gardens of the Alhambra

la catedral de Granada i la zona més nova, amb el camp a fons ~ the cathedral of Granada and the newer area of the city, with the countryside in the background

xurros amb xocolada ~ churros with chocolate

la catedral vista damunt els sostres de la ciutat ~ the cathedral seen over the city’s roofs

façana principal de la catedral ~ main façade of the cathedral

Albaicín

l’Alhambra vista des de l’Albaicín ~ the Alhambra seen from the Albaicín

]]> http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/eight/feed/ 0 glaviderottla http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/seven/ http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/seven/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 19:39:33 +0000 Stephen http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/?p=9 ]]>

cartells que es troben arreu de la vila de Sitges ~ “Don’t dirty the walls, cleanliness is a great sign of civilization”, sign that is found all around the town of Sitges

palau municipal ~ town hall

Madrigal a Sitges

façana de l’esglèsia de Sant Bartomeu ~ façade of St. Bartholomew’s Church

font antiga ~ old fountain

edificis construïts dins el mur antic de la vila ~ buildings built into the old city wall

la ‘cara lletja’ de Montserrat, vista al fons des d’Olèrdola ~ the ‘ugly face’ of Montserrat, seen in the distance from Olèrdola

murs antics d’Olèrdola ~ old walls of Olerdola

el que roman de construccions romanes ~ what remains of Roman constructions

esglèsia romànica de Sant Miquel ~ romanesque church of Saint Michael

tombs vells a la necròpolis ~ old tombs in the necropolis

més dels murs antics, amb senyals de civilització més moderna a fons ~ more of the old walls, with signs of more modern civilization in the background

]]> http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/seven/feed/ 0 glaviderottla http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/six/ http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/six/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 19:15:14 +0000 Stephen http://novacorpora.wordpress.com/?p=8 ]]> Cerc el que lluu entre pedra i calçobre.
I search for what shines among stone and scraps.
- J.V. Foix

Casa Batlló, Passeig de Gràcia, dissenyat per l’Antoni Gaudí ~ Batlló House, Passeig de Gràcia, designed by Antoni Gaudí

Passeig de Gràcia des de l’interior de la Casa Batlló ~ Passeig de Gràcia from inside the Batlló House

al pati de darrere a la Casa Batlló ~ in the back patio of Batlló House

Sagrada Família

la torre de la catedral de l’edat mitjana ~ the tower of the medeival cathedral

des del sostre de la catedral cap al nordest, amb la Sagrada Família més a fons ~ from the roof of the cathedral towards the northeast, with Sagrada Família far in the background

des del sostre de la catedral cap al noroest, amb el claustre de la catedral més a prop ~ from the roof of the cathedral toward the northwest, with the cloister of the cathedral in the foreground

des del sostre de la catedral cap al sudoest, amb Montjuïc a fons ~ from the roof of the cathedral toward the southwest, with Montjuïc in the background

cap al Mediterrani ~ towards the Mediterranean

el sarcòfeg de la Santa Eulàlia a la catedral ~ the sarcophagus of Saint Eulalia at the cathedral

la torre, des del claustre ~ the tower, from the cloister

façana de Sant Felip Neri, amb les cicatrius d’afusellaments ~ façade of St. Philip Neri, with the scars of firings squads

carrer dels Banys Nous, Barri Gòtic ~ New Baths Street, Gothic Quarter

El Corte Inglés a Plaça Catalunya ~ El Corte Inglés department store at Plaça Catalunya

Plaça Catalunya

foc que commemora els barcelonins que moriren defenent Catalunya en 1713, al costat de Santa Maria del Mar ~ fire that commemorates those from Barcelona who died defending Catalonia in 1713, alongside Santa Maria del Mar

façana lluïda de Santa Maria del Mar ~ illuminated façade of Santa Maria del Mar

la capella neogòtica a l’hospital de Marylebone ~ Gothic revival chapel at Marylebone Hospital

ruïnes d’una esglèsia dissenyada per Wren, destruïda durant la 2na Guerra Mundial ~ ruins of a church designed by Wren, destroyed in the 2nd World War

el riu Tàmesi, mirant cap al centre de la ciutat ~ Thames River, looking toward the center of the city

l’edifici de MI-5, a l’altre costat del riu ~ MI-5 building, on the other side of the river

la catedral de Canterbury que es troba a una hora de Londres ~ Canterbury Cathedral, about an hour from London

el palau a Greenwich, mirant cap a l’est de Londres ~ Greenwich Palace, looking towards the East End

la ciutat des del London Eye ~ the city from the London Eye

el parc St. James amb el London Eye a fons ~ St. James’ Park with the London Eye in the background

façana de ponent de l’abadia de Westminster ~ western façade of Westminster Abbey

III. Punta Ballenas, Colonia del Sacramento

Mirant al Río de la Plata des d’un balcó de Casa Pueblo ~ Overlooking the Río de la Plata from a balcony at Casa Pueblo

Casa Pueblo, Punta Ballenas

estàtua de Carlos Páez Vilaró, Casa Pueblo, Punta Ballenas ~ statue by Carlos Páez Vilaró

Casa Pueblo, Punta Ballenas

Calle de los Suspiros ~ “Street of the Sighs”, Colonia del Sacramento

barri colonial ~ colonial neighborhood, Colonia del Sacramento

El faro, des del qual hom pot veure Buenos Aires a l’horitzó ~ The lighthouse, from which one can see Buenos Aires on the horizon

carrer baixant al riu ~ street leading down to the river

barri colonial, des del mur antic ~ colonial neighborhood, from the old wall

parc zoològic? ~ zoo?

a la vora del riu ~ by the river