From Library Journal
Pedro Almod¢var's provocative films went from international camp status to Academy Award-winning glory in 2000 when All About My Mother won Best Foreign Language Film. The flamboyant Spanish director, known for his outrageous dramedies revolving around passionate Spanish men and strong-willed yet frantic women, is perhaps the most famous European director alive. His most recognized films include Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down!, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Flower of My Secret. Edwards (The Discreet Art of Luis Bu¤uel) provides a basic introduction to Almod¢var's 13 films as well as a few black-and-white stills of his charismatic troupe of actors, such as Antonio Banderas, Pen‚lope Cruz, and Javier Bardem, all now familiar to American audiences. Edwards provides a brief biography of Almod¢var in her introduction and ends with a quick summarization of his entire body of works. In between, she devotes ten well-researched chapters to the director's works and discusses budget, film premieres, reviews both in Spain and internationally, tales about production, plot analysis, cinematography, and the cultural relevance of a film's theme. A handy filmography, bibliography, and index make this book an important, up-to-date study for both devotees and newcomers to Almod¢var's over-the-top dramas. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries with film collections. Adriana Lopez, "Criticas"
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
