“Pain And Glory”– Movie Review

On the opening weekend at the 57th New York Film Festival, I attended the New York premiere of the latest drama by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, “Pain And Glory”, starring Antonio Banderas.

Synopsis

When an aging film director is in physical and mental decline, he reflects on his life and prepares for whatever future remains.

 

Story

It has been a while since director Salvador Mallo (Banderas) has made a film.  With age and declining health, his spark of creativity appears to have been extinguished.  Although he has done some writing, it’s nothing that he feels comfortable with expanding into a long-form screenplay.  Falling into despair, he recalls his modest upbringing and his close relationship with his mother (Penélope Cruz); despite being poor, he was happy as a child with a simple life where he excelled in his studies as well as being a singer in the church choir.  Tutoring an illiterate young man, he considers a career as a teacher.

Mallo gets some good news – or at least something which most directors would consider good news:  One of his best films from decades ago has been restored and new screenings are scheduled; he and the star, Alberto Crespo (Asier Etxeandia), have been scheduled to attend one of the screenings in order to do a question and answer session with the audience.  This proves problematic for Mallo since he and Crespo had a falling out after the movie’s release regarding Mallo’s dislike of Crespo’s performance in the motion picture. In order to appear at the screening, the two men must negotiate a truce.  

When Mallo develops a chronic cough, he is particularly concerned since his coughs sound as though he is choking, even though he’s not trying to swallow any food.  This has been an ongoing problem which he has been diligently ignoring, hoping it would disappear on its own. Eventually, his long-time agent and friend takes him to see a doctor, who recommends further tests; at this point, the agent is now worried that the diagnosis might be some form of throat cancer.  Once Mallo gets the results of his tests, how will this impact his remaining time on earth? 

Review

There are a number of filmmakers who, at some point in their career, attempt to make a movie that is either autobiographical or semi-autobiographical (last year’s “Roma” would be a good example).  Apparently, Pedro Almodóvar feels as though his own time has come for this. While an interesting and entertaining film, it does at times come across as a little self-indulgent. The so-called “tortured artist” thing has been done so many times and when it is clearly a mirror image of its creator, then even more self-indulgent.  No doubt, Almodóvar’s name should be included among the best of contemporary directors, just don’t ask people to feel too sorry for you.

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Banderas won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Mallo.  After seeing this movie, it is clear why. He does a brilliant job of playing this aging character with various physical and psychological maladies, which drives him to self-medication.   Another reason why Banderas’ acting is award-worthy is due to the fact that he is playing a gay man who has a scene where he has to passionately kiss a former lover of his. Since it’s fairly well-known that Banderas is straight, you would have to be an incredible actor to successfully play this in a realistic fashion. 

Following the screening, there was an interview with director Pedro Almodóvar and star Antonio Banderas.  Almodóvar confessed that while the movie is based on his own life experience, it is intermingled with some fiction.  Banderas said that he found the rehearsal period with the director to be extremely helpful; he mentioned that a few years back, he had a heart attack and that informed his performance for the scenes with the character’s own health issues.  Prior to the screening, Almodóvar introduced the film as well as his actor; by way of introducing Banderas, he said, “If I am Scorsese, [Banderas] is my De Niro”.