Film Review: Talk to Her (Hable con ella, 2002)

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drax2 years ago3 min read

(source: tmdb.org)

In 1980s Pedro Almodovar used to be enfant terrible of Spanish and European cinema. In 21st Century, however, his films were, despite his best efforts to be as transgressive as possible, becoming mainstream. One of the films most illustrative of the process was his 2002 drama Talk to Her.

Protagonists are two men who became friends due to bizarre and tragic set of circumstances. Benigno Martin (played by Javier Cámarra) is male nurse specialised for caring about comatose patients. His favourite patient is Alicia Roncero (played by Lenor Watling), beautiful former dancer who, following traffic accident, fell into coma from which he would probably never wake up. That doesn’t prevent Benigno to, apart from physical care, tend to her spiritual needs by showing pictures, playing music and talk about films and stage plays he watched. While watching ballet, he accidentally met journalist Marco Zuluaga (played by Dario Grandinetti), journalist tasked to write article about Lydia Gonzalez (played by Rosario Flores), female toreador. Marco and Lydia begin romantic relationship, which ends tragically when Lydia ends under the hooves of bull in arena. Benigno meets Marco again, this time in hospital where he visits Lydia, turned into vegetable following her injuries. Benigno advises Marco not to reconcile with her condition and instead to talk and act like she can communicate with him. Marco listens to him and two men become friends, but unforeseen events and some dark secrets from Benigno’s past would put their friendship to test.

Just like with his previous film

, many critics hailed this film as a proof that Almodovar “grew up” and began to make “proper” and “serious”. The word “serious”, however, should be taken with a grain of salt in this particular case. Almodovar has filled his film with little bit too much quirky characters and situations, while amount of pathos at times seem more fitting to telenovelas. Almodovar at times can’t resist temptation to show how “cool” and imaginative is, and the best example is short silent film, which, despite being delightful in its own right, seems artificially inserted into Talk to Her. Much more problematic are scenes of alternative ballet featuring Pina Bausch and recitations of Caetano Veloso which would test patience of viewers who don’t have acquired taste.

What ultimately helps Talk to Her is cast. Almodovar was most fortunate with Javier Cámarra, actor who was before this best known for the role of protagonist’s sidekick in

. Cámarra is simply brilliant in complex role of likeable, kind-hearted and innocent protagonist whose actions would before the end get horrifying dimension. Argentine actor Dario Grandinetti is also good in the role of a character who is the most normal and sanest in whole film. Popular singer Rosario Flores, on the other hand, looks exactly like a woman doing a typically male activity like bullfighting should look. Despite serious flaws, Talk to Her is well-made film that should please audience larger than Almodovar’s fans.

RATING: 6/10 (++)