Look, its half an hour long. Half an hour of the divine Tilda doing her stuff. Plus, its directed by Pedro Almodovar. Plus, its Tilda doing her stuff for half an hour. What are you waiting for? Just watch it, right now!
Originally a stage play by Jean Cocteau. Almodovar has transformed it into something flamboyantly all his own. He built the set inside a warehouse, to emphasise the contrived aesthetic of it still more. Every aspect of the flat is designed to the absolute hilt, both stylish and stylised, every decor choice strikingly distinctive. Each shot in the movie composed in strong colour blocks of primary and secondary colours, placed against the softer green wall colouring.
Living within the artifice of this oh so beautiful environment is an equally immaculately dressed woman. She's waiting, waiting for the man with whom she created and once shared this ultra luxurious flat. Her former lover, he still hasn't come to collect his bags and belongings. They are waiting in the lobby. She is waiting for this return, or at least a call.
The woman will break out of this staged set. Pacing back and forth, as if stalking the warehouse, dressed in a bright scarlet ball gown. The woman's life appears completely dictated by the constraints of high fashion, a high maintenance lifestyle and appearance. And yet now her life and this lifestyle is upturned, she cannot move on nor escape from it. She's still holding out for the man to return. Until she can speak to him, her life is kept on hold. The man appears to be deliberately keeping out of contact. His silence is an expression of his power over her. Then the man does phone.
Tilda Swinton, conveys all the brittle nervy desperation of this woman. The transparency of her lies and deceptions, to herself and others. How emotionally dependent she remains on this man, it hurts. Yet, as the call progresses, there is a gradual realisation that she can recover agency over her life and future. There is, after all, something she can do to break the spell to release herself from this gorgeous prison.
Its just brilliant, watch it.
CARROT REVIEW 7/8
Currently available on I Player.
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