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Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom – 1980 Almodóvar
- Though 1978’s Folle… folle… fólleme Tim! Is technically Almodóvar’s debut, most cinephiles use Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom as the great Spanish auteur’s starting point (he made a number of short films as well).
- Loud talk and loud clothes—this is Almodovar.
- This is a raunchy, button-pushing (multiple rape scenarios- and in a comedy) enfant terrible Almodovar. The setting is Madrid and the punk scene.
- Bold, colorful titles (above)- even in an ugly, grainy 16mm Almodóvar’s style bleeds through
- In the home of Félix Rotaeta’s character Almodovar sets a great frame. The wallpaper is dramatic, there is vibrant drape on the table that pops. The three characters facing the frame, in a cinematic painting, talking to each other while facing the camera.
- A few small narrative cheats like Pepi talking to herself.
- Provocateur—masochism, rape, an abundance of bathroom humor– Almodovar seems to be trying to check every taboo box—with that and the homemade coarse look- it does feel like John Waters.
- Even in 1980 Carmen Maura has a clear screen presence that stand above the others.
- In the coke scene there are purple chandeliers, murals in the background, multicolored drinks (on purpose- just like Ozu in his color period to help design the frame- a splash of color) in the glasses- this arrangement was at the 54-minute mark.
- Bom’s character is a strange addition—just from a story standpoint you probably do not want a character talking about being bored all the time and talking about how “lame” everything is- even if it is realistic.
- Has a sort of throwaway casualness like a sitcom
- Recommend but not in the top 10 of 1980
Drake2021-11-01T14:43:40+00:00
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