The Flower of My Secret

"The Flower of My Secret" is from 1995, written and directed by Pedro Almodovar. It's not his best, but even a weaker Almodovar is better than just about anything out there.

The story begins strangely, with two youngish men, doctors, attempting to convince a woman to let her brain-dead son's organs be harvested. It turns out that it's some sort of training. Leo (Marisa Paredes) is waiting outside to ask her friend for help. She can't get her boots off and needs help.

Leo's husband is in the military. She is a writer, a famous one, though not under her own name. She uses the name Amanda Gris. She goes to see the editor of a newspaper and asks to do a literature section for him. After he reads her unpublished novel, he hires her to write a story about Amanda Gris. Later on, he tells her that a film is being made and the story is similar to the novel.

When Leo's husband Paco (Imanol Aris) shows up, it's obvious that though she has a great evening planned, he does not share her ardor. And he actually isn't on leave; he just has to leave, and he does. Leo is completely devastated.

This is a more serious Almodovar and, though Leo does have a nutty mother, a maid who dances, and the maid's son (a dancer/filmmaker), this isn't a film studded with Almodovar's usual assortment of eccentric characters and situations.

Almodovar ties up the theme with the training we see in the beginning -- acceptance and moving on. It's a lovely story of a woman unable to free herself from her life, in the same way she can't get those boots, but who ultimately breaks loose.

Though it doesn't quite succeed, "The Flower of My Secret" is worth seeing.

Only Pedro Almodovar can do a melodrama that crosses genres like this film. In one sense, this is a film that you would expect to see on Lifetime.

Marisa Paredes (All About My Mother, Life is Beautiful) is nothing less than outstanding a a writer that is going through a crisis with a husband (Imanol Arias) that does not love her anymore. There is, of course, a crisis with her mother (Chus Lampreave - Volver) at the same time. Then, she finds out that it is her best friend that is having an affair with her husband, and there are profession problems at the same time. Sounds just like a Lifetime movie, doesn't it? But, Almodovar manages to give us a great story with his twists. Laughs are generous as comedic situations occur throughout. It's like wanting to laugh at something at a funeral. It happens, and we just have to deal with it.

Juan Echanove (who supposedly gave a great performance in Alatriste, the film that I have been waiting for release theatrically, or on DVD) is superb as Ángel, the newspaper editor who fulfills a dream to write romance novels. and who is in love with Leo (Parades).

It is just another great film from Almodovar that defies a description that would ever do it justice. Only experiencing his films can ever be pleasure.

Having seen most of Almodovar films, I have to say I prefer his more hilarious, comical, absurd ones. High heels, Talk to her are two other examples of Almodovar doing almost straightforward "drama" - though not the usual drama fare.

That said, this touched me a lot. Without excluding some typically unusual -hillariously funny- Almodovar dialogues and "usual suspects", this film is about pasiion, lust, bitterness, disappointment, joy. It is, after all, about life. Acting of the lead actress is top notch, it's human as far as it goes. No silly plot tricks, no deus ex machina, this is not another sorry a$$ American drama with easy solutions or a bright happy end.

Almodovar is one of the greatest artists of film!

An intense drama about love , jealous and betrayal. It deals with Leocadia, Marisa Paredes , a mature writer of romantic fiction who hits crisis point when she is rejected by her husband , Imanol Arias , and is then trapped by her reputation when she attempts to expand her literary horizons. Along the way she is supported by Angel : Juan Echanove , editor of the Newspaper El País. Later on, Leo returns to her native village, a source of solace.

This is an intimate portrait of pain and regeneration that strikes the heart without tricks. Here Pedro Almodovar focuses on a single character , the challenge of dealing closely an individual role has reconnected him with the emocional realities of an everyday damaged life. Although there are various secondaries incidents as the constant bickering between the mother : Chus Lampreave and Leo's sister Rossy De Palma, both of whom Almodovar's regulars, as well as a trip home to her native La Mancha, birth's location Almodovar himself. Here Pedro observes the commitment that permeates family relationships detailed with great honesty , perceptiveness and the habitual incisive humor, being freely based on a short novel written by Dorothy Parker. Main star Marisa Paredes gives a nice acting as the upsettling writer suffering loneliness , irritation , professional frustation and deceiving. Being well accompanied by ordinary actors of the Almodovar Factory displaying top-notch interpretations, such as Rossy De Palma , Chus Lampreave, Kiti Manver along with others as Juan Echanove , Imanol Arias , Jordi Molla, Nancho Novo, Carmen Elías, Gloria Muñoz, Juan Jose Otegui .Adding spectacular Flamenco dances by Joaquín Cortes and , of course , wonderful songs by Chavela Vargas .

Furthermore, colorful and glamorous cinematography by Alfonso Beato and Alfredo Mayo. Along with adequate and sensitive musical score by Alberto Iglesias. The picture was well made by Pedro Almodovar in his peculiar style, directing a especial melodrama, including his personal touches. Almodovar directs throughout with splendid zip and he often portrays strong female characters and getting a long career achieving some international awards. His first film Pepi, Luci, Boom 1980 was made in 16mm and had certain success. In 1987 Pedro and his brother Agustin established his own production company El Deseo S. A., making various and very popular fims all around the world. Oscar-winning Almodovar made a lot of successes such as Labyrinth of Passions, Law of Desire, Matador, Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Bad Education, All about my Mother, Talk to her, Broken embraces, The Skin I live, I'm so excited and nowadays he goes on giving big hits on the internatinal screens. The Flower of my Secret rating 6.5/10. Decent melodrama, essential and fundamental seeing for Pedro Almodovar aficionados. Worthwhile watching.

"The Flower of My Secret" is an unusual film by the controversial Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. So often, the man seems to go out of his way to shock and offend the viewer. Yet, oddly, this is an amazingly 'normal' film and it lacks the shock value of films such as "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown", "The Skin I live In" or "All About My Father". This is NOT a complaint--and it does make the film more palatable for the average viewer. However, it's also a film that only mildly piqued my interest and might disappoint his die- hard fans.

Leo (Marisa Paredes) is a middle-aged woman with a secret--what exactly that is you'll need to find out for yourself. She also has a marriage that is on the rocks. Her husband is a UN peace-keeper and seems to use this as an excuse not to return home. They are very distant--and some of this might be due to Leo's very volatile personality and drinking. Where exactly all this goes, I'd rather you just watch the film as I don't want to divulge exactly what happens.

While the film is well-crafted and acted, it's also woefully incomplete. The ending, I can almost guarantee, will leave you a bit unsatisfied as it seems a bit vague. But the film is an interesting character study and it's worth seeing just for that. Plus, I could see a group of friends or a couple watching this one and then talking about the many issues it raises.