Pain and Glory (2019)
All About My Mother didn’t really do it for me as I had a hard time connecting with especially the melodramatic style, but I am glad that I gave Almodóvar another chance with this film, that came highly recommended from a group of podcasters whose judgement I can trust.
Like everyone else I can could go on about how beautiful colors are applied in the cinematography here. It is on the level of Kieslowski. And I want to visit an art museum in Madrid now!
However, what really made this film work for me was its combination of nostalgic melodrama and introspection of aging. I feel like there are so many layers to unpack here, from a otherwise well known basic setup of an aging artist struggling with the meaning of life when age is about to catch up. The flashbacks to his childhood work wonders to get an understanding for what he is missing in the present. The narrative may be loose and seemingly unstructured, but on a personal emotional level it is very tight and when it finished, everything was satisfyingly tied together.
Rating: 4.5