This is not Almodovar's best film (See: Todo Sobre mi Madre), however it is the one I found the most affecting. A Nostos themed film about the pain and comfort of reconciling with the past. The film contrasts modernity and the past by reflecting the traditional, superstition-rich culture of rural La Mancha against the modern, more anonymous reality of Madrid, showing how characters just as ourselves navigate and bridge these two worlds. All this anchored by Penelope Cruz's best performance and a rich red Spanish color palette, make it my favorite Almodóvar film.

This film replaces Satoshi Kon's reality shifts with miraculous coincidences that are as surreal as all his other iconic filmography. A love letter to marginalized outcasts. The movie pays homage to Capra, Wyler and Hawks through its three main characters and its narrative. As a young movie viewer in 2003, I related to each character in different ways and I currently this as a formative movie that increased my empathy and understanding of people in the margins of society.

2024, 31 Day Horror Halloween Challenge 2/31