Talk to Her (2002)
March 28th, 2003 at 6:46 am (3 - Enjoyed it)
Two hours after leavingt he theater I am still recuperating from the impact of watching Pedro Almodovar’s latest Hable con ella [Talk to Her] (2002). The expertly made movie is not so much disturbing as it is touching. There is an honesty to the despair and desperation of the characters that is rare to see in cinema these days.
The plot, two men who are in love with women in comas, is one that could have easily been sensationalized; but this film takes the high road and instead involves us with the characters. The characters, and the film, are unrepentantly complex. There are no simple positions, no simple answers, and no simple opinions. Almodovar is unafraid to use devices, such as expressive modern dance and a black and white silent film with a twelve-inch man crawling over the body of his lover, to give the movie meaning and atmosphere. It is sad to realize that American cinema no longer seems to have the guts to bring art and meaning to cinema the way that foreign film does. Talk to Her is not a movie for everyone, probably not for most, but to anyone who appreciates the artistry of dramatic story telling I recommend that this film not be missed.