Pedro Almodóvar casts himself as villain in new film

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 18:02 · Archive

Director Pedro Almodóvar's latest film 'Bitter Christmas' explores how filmmakers use real life for art.

Pedro Almodóvar's latest film 'Bitter Christmas' reaches new heights of self-reflection for the 77-year-old Spanish director. The film features two narratives both concerning filmmakers, with one storyline centring on a veteran director suffering creative block, played by Leonardo Sbaraglia, who is notably similar to Almodóvar himself. As with his previous films such as 'All About My Mother' and 'Pain and Glory', Almodóvar's new work blurs the line between fiction and reality.

The film culminates in an inquiry into how the director — and Almodóvar himself — draws from real life for artistic purposes. Almodóvar describes this as 'a portrait of the artist as a not-so-young thief'. The meta elements come most alive in the final twenty minutes of the film, according to Almodóvar, which is where he made the decision to cast himself as the villain of his own story.

Sony Pictures Classics releases 'Bitter Christmas' in theatres on Friday. The film arrives as Almodóvar continues to be an outspoken voice in cinema, having defended theatrical releases and criticised streaming platforms like Netflix, which he also critiques within 'Bitter Christmas'.

How it is being reported

• Q&A: Pedro Almodóvar on why he made himself the villain of his new film, 'Bitter Christmas'Art does far more than imitate life in the films of Pedro Almodóvar.Clickorlando · 13 Nov, 17:45
• Q&A: Pedro Almodóvar on why he made himself the villain of his new film, 'Bitter Christmas'Art does far more than imitate life in the films of Pedro Almodóvar.News4Jax · 13 Nov, 17:45

In this story: Pedro Almodóvar · Leonardo Sbaraglia · Sony Pictures Classics

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