this story would sort of go on to become two better movies, sharing an opening with All About My Mother and the protagonist having written the story that would become Volver, but this film has a lot to offer as well. it's really just your typical alcoholic writer self-destructing story, but it's beautifully told with stunning cinematography, great art design, and a lovely score. Marisa Paredes is incredible, though i think she even got better after this.

From what I've seen I tend to prefer Almodóvar's more recent films. The Flower of My Secret is amusing enough, but I can't say I saw anything particularly special in it. It kind of annoyed me that two of the best scenes - where the woman is talking to the doctors about her son's brain damage - are pretty much abandoned 15 minutes in to the movie.

A somewhat Bergman-like drama that lacks the spark, charm and humor of Almodovar's better films, but it was so warm and moving I got swept up by it anyway. His talent for crafting complex characters is admirable, and I adore the way he discovers such lively shots and compositions.