• 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