Hi Kat. I just put up a posting in the top 5 thread, then read this posting by you. Check it out.

Until Carne Tremulo, I'd say that the majority of Almodovar's female roles were dominated by over the top, classical Hollywood, almost drag queen quality characters. These aren't real women he's portraying, but caricatures of femininity. It would appear that he's simultaneously critiquing the mid-centruy Hollywood practice of building female star powerhouses like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford while at the same time praising their glamour. I can see the feminist argument in his critique, but over all I think it's merely a matter of aesthetic. I mean, check it out when Pepa and Lucia square off over gazpacho in Women on the Verge. On one hand, these are powerful, in control women. On the other, they're being spun out of control by their emotions. It's a conflicted notion of womanhood.

I mean, just his actresses alone - Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril (who seems determined to only do strange films), Marrisa Paredes - these are goddesses, not just actresses.

His take on women has eveolved significantly since then. All About My Mother, for example, while still containing an element of the glamour he idolized as captured by La Agrado and Huma, balances out with the humanity and frility of Manuela and Rosa. It's a brilliant picture.

hello kat, I am thinking about doing my dissitation work in my graphic design about the movies of almodovar, and to look at the use of sound, music, light and atmosphere. since you have done a piece of work about his movies i wonder if you have any tips about where to find useful information, maby some titles of books, etc. i would be forever grateful if you could help me! Helene