Pain and Glory

"Pain and Glory" revolves around a geriatric Spanish film director, who, in the midst of a creative dilemma, recalls earlier incidents that have shaped his life.

Salvador, portrayed by Antonio Banderas, is a clear stand-in for the director Almodóvar; this character is an old Spanish film director battling physical infirmities and an incapacity to continue working. In his bright flat - his mind occasionally woozy from medication and heroin - Salvador's awareness drifts to incidents and emotional responses from his past: sunny childhood afternoons with his beautiful and resolute mom (Penélope Cruz); his first prepubescent encounter with romantic arousal; his first adult relationship torn apart by addictive feelings; and his passionate, enduring love of movies.

Almodóvar, who has been creating films since the 1970s, renders "Pain and Glory" a dreamy, free-floating experience; it is both a tale and a storyteller's interpretation of that same tale. Overall, the movie is so intimate and realistic, that you find yourself experiencing everything first-hand rather than just watching it impassively.

Year of Release: 2019

Stars: Antonio Banderas, Asier Etxeandia

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%