The Flower of My Secret

Rating:
Summary: Lovely and Touching . . .
Review: . . . and maybe those aren't words fans normally associate with Almodovar, at least when not linked to words like "junky," "transvestite," or "porn star." I disagree with the reviewer who termed this a misfire--it's simply a more thoughtful film by this usually over-the-top director. Visually, one of his most arresting films, Almodovar chooses to focus this time on the distance between true love and idealized love as seen in romance novels and how they sometimes intersect in surprising ways. Marissa Paredes shows stunning range as the main character--at times both critically stung and deeply needy and yet passionate and cocky . . . boy, do you root for her. And the scene in which she is literally pushed by a mob of protesters into the arms of the man she could be truly happy with is one of the best in movies. NOT a disappointment at all.

Rating:
Summary: Quiet restrained Almodovar with love to Spanish Culture
Review: A quiet restrained Almodovar movie, rich with symbols and style (artistic shots made through different patterns - mirrors, straw chair patterns, etc.). This movie is also a tribute to the Spanish culture - dance, food and various elements of the folklore which appear in lace making, landscape and portrayal of "country people".
This is the story of Leo (Marisa Paredes) who is a writer. Leo writes her stories under a pseudonym as she is not proud of the sugary love stories she writes. This "real/unreal love" is one of the main themes and conflicts of the movie. Leo, under again another pseudonym attacks her own love stories while Angel, her new boss and friend writes in favor of the sugary author. Should we believe the dramatic love story which always comes with a happy ending but is somewhat untrue or should we write / or dream about everyday truthful life where love, like other achievements comes after hard work?
In the opening scene Leo has trouble getting her boots off - the boots are a present from her husband and she wears them although they are so tight she cannot breath. In what is later understood as a very symbolic act she tries to take the boots off in various ways but succeeds only after her friend Betty manages to help her. Betty works in the transplant section of the hospital (transplants and the detailed process of explaining the death of a dear one to his relatives also appear in Almodovar "all about my mother" and Almodovar is definitely doing a great service to this matter). Leo drinks a lot. She is very miserable and misses her husband who is in the army. Leo knows they are having problems but it seems that the viewer is in a better position to understand the nature of their relationship. Leo is both aware of problems yet blind to several facts that are presented to her face (blindness is another motive - as Leo's mother who was brought from the country to live with Leo's sister in the city is half blind, yet there are several things she can "see" very well). When Leo finally understands the truth - she falls apart and is aided back to life by her family and new friend.
This is first of all a love story, but more then that this is a story of loyalty vs. infidelity (on the one hand we have Blanka, Leo's faithful maid and on the other side her close friend), city vs. country, and once and again the question of truth - in relationships, in writing, and maybe in art in general (through the story of Blanka and her son dance group).
Marisa Parades is convincing and is aided by a lovely group of actors of which I would like to mention Leo's sister, Rossy de Palma whose face is so memorable you cannot forget. This actress has also participated in Almodovar movie "Kika" and makes a strong impression.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Almodóvar
Review: I agree with what the second reviewer says about this sensitive, passionate, lyrical portrayal of a courageous, strong, disciplined woman whose nemesis, as always, results from the heart. The betrayals she suffers are as profound as her love is and Marisa Paredes comes through as one of the half a dozen or so most important film actresses of the decade. One particular scene, the mother returning to her native village, provides one of the most exquisite moments in film: the background text and the sight and the voice becoming a separate moment of intense recollection and joy. Nothing misfired about this genuine masterpiece. ''Mamadoc'' s.marie

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Almodóvar
Review: I agree with what the second reviewer says about this sensitive, passionate, lyrical portrayal of a courageous, strong, disciplined woman whose nemesis, as always, results from the heart. The betrayals she suffers are as profound as her love is and Marisa Paredes comes through as one of the half a dozen or so most important film actresses of the decade. One particular scene, the mother returning to her native village, provides one of the most exquisite moments in film: the background text and the sight and the voice becoming a separate moment of intense recollection and joy. Nothing misfired about this genuine masterpiece. ''Mamadoc'' s.marie

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and touching -- very real
Review: I just saw the movie on IFC and can't begin to express howeffected I was by this movie and by the performance of the leadactress. It was beautifully made, nicely directed, perfectly cast and gave me a warm and optimistic feeling. I highly recommend it... and I'm not easy to please when it comes to movies! Also, NICE soundtrack.

Rating:
Summary: Wistful, romantic, funny Almodovar
Review: I loved this!

It marks the beginning of Almodovar's second golden period, with Live Flesh and All About My Mother. I dispute that it is rambling. It is no more rambling than All About My Mother... in fact I would suggest it is more coherent.

The territory is classic Almodovar, but done with more poignancy than his earlier work. The frustrated confused lost romance novelist struggles through the chaos of her life to finally learn to believe in love, and the tango. Magic

Rating:
Summary: Fair
Review: The Flower of my Secret, directed by cult Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is a "talky" disappointment. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS.

Rating:
Summary: one of Almodovar's best
Review: This film is my second favorite Almodovar film, falling between Law of Desire and Dark Habits. It tells the story of a romance writer who's own real-life romance is falling apart. She is torn between the image of herself as tragic victim and as perpetuator of rosy love stories. This is a very subtle film by Almodovar, but I've seen it four times now and it yields more beauty with each viewing. Central to my enjoyment of the film is Marisa Paredes. She is a grand actress in the old Hollywood tradition (check her out in Almodovar's fine new film, All About My Mother). She runs the gamut of every possible emotion and creates a character that is memorable and moving. Her performance rivals those of Julietta Serrano in Dark Habits and Carmen Maura in Law of Desire. Almodovar favorites Rossy de Palma and Chuz Lamprave make memorable cameos in this movie. This is a must see film!

Rating:
Summary: Perfect story about people's search for love and comfort...
Review: This film is perhaps especially telling to people in their 40's and 50's, because character's search for love and comfort can only be fully appreciated by people of this age, who are more or less in the same situation as this woman-novelist with numerous emotional problems and no solution to them.

She does find a solution eventually, but you have to wait until the end of the film to see that. It will not dissapoint you at all; in fact, it might surprise you a great deal...

Wonderful supporting characters (e.g. novelist's mother and sister) make this film an outstanding thinking piece about human life. Very deep!

Rating:
Summary: Hooray for Hollywood
Review: You either love or hate Aldomovar films. This one may win over a new legion of fans but is very unlike most of his movies. So which is the real Aldomovar, the straight romanticist or the outrageous dierctor? Probably both but more bizarre than stright considering his style leans more to wacky characters verses isn't she sweet characters. This movie is different from any of his previous works in that it is, well for lack of a better word, mundane. This is not one of my favorite Aldomovar movies. The plot is simple, a woman is in crisis in her life, unhappy in her marriage, writing (romance) novels that are about everything she is missing in her life, and her denial of what she needs, real romance. Marisa Paredes, who has beeen hilarious in other Aldomovar films is just ok as the novelist in the story, Amanda Gris. Her full talents are not utilized though as she is not as funny in her depiction of Amanda, it's just not in the character I guess. Check out some of her other roles and you'll see what I mean, she's better in the other movies. Her husband is consumed with his career and other "projects". It is a bit of a sad story and maybe too close to real life, that is why some will love it and others not. More women will like this than men, translation dare I say, chick flick. This is more of a mainstream movie that departs from Aldomovar's usual flair for the unusual usual suspects. For me this movie and the performances were just to ordinary. That said many will love it.