Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Leading Actors/Actresses
Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Rosario Flores, Geraldine Chaplin, Rosario Flores
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Romance
Language
Spanish
Awards
Won Academy Award for Best Writing-Original Screenplay
Date of Release
2002
Producer
Agustín Almodóvar
Setting and Context
Madrid
Narrator and Point of View
Point of View is that of Marco
Tone and Mood
Dramatic, Suspenseful
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Marco. Antagonist is Benigno
Major Conflict
Marco's love, Lydia has gone into a coma and put into a long-term care facility.
Climax
Marco becomes close with the nurse, Benigno who has raped and impregnated a comatose patient. Marco tries to help him in his court case, but Benigno commits suicide.
Foreshadowing
When we see Alicia in a coma for the first time it foreshadows the potential for destruction.
Understatement
It's understated that Benigno is in love with Alicia.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
N/A
Allusions
The silent film Benigno goes to see is an allusion to his love with Alicia.
Paradox
Lydia is a bullfighter, but paradoxically is scared stiff of snakes.
Parallelism
The opening ballet scene parallels the final scene where Alicia meets Marco in the theatre.
