Pain and Glory

(Dolor y gloria)

In select theaters
October 4^th 2019

113 minutes

Spanish

Spain

Pain and Glory tells of a series of reencounters experienced by Salvador Mallo, a film director in his physical decline. Some of them in the flesh, others remembered: his childhood in the 60s, when he emigrated with his parents to a village in Valencia in search of prosperity, the first desire, his first adult love in the Madrid of the 80s, the pain of the breakup of that love while it was still alive and intense, writing as the only therapy to forget the unforgettable, the early discovery of cinema, and the void, the infinite void created by the incapacity to keep on making films. Pain and Glory talks about creation, about the difficulty of separating it from one’s own life and about the passions that give it meaning and hope.

starring...

Antonio Banderas

Salvador Mallo (adult)

Asier Etxeandia

Alberto Crespo

Leonardo Sbaraglia

Federico Delgado

Nora Navas

Mercedes

Julieta Serrano

Jacinta (adult)

Penélope Cruz

Jacinta (young)

Asier Flores

Salvador Mallo (young)

Writer & Director

Pedro Almodóvar

Cinematography

José Luis Alcaine

Music

Alberto Iglesias

Editing

Teresa Font

Production Design

Antxón Gómez

Casting

Eva Leira, Yolanda Serrano

Costume Design

Paola Torres

96% on the CINEMETER

97% - Oct 6, 2019

Wow! A masterpiece even by Almodovar's standards!
San Francisco Member

A beautifully perfect movie. The cinematography and color palettes were characters themselves. I could have watched for another two hours. Antonio Banderas was amazing, and worthy of an Oscar nomination - overcame his swashbuckling romantic persona.
San Francisco Member

A glorious meditation on the antecedents of desire and the redemptive fertility of memory.
San Francisco Member

Is there nothing Penelope Cruz can't do? Antonio Banderas is one of our finest living actors - so subtle.
San Francisco Member

Madre de dios! Not a false note! An eye's delight - what color! Enchanted poignancy and credible intimacies - from childhood to old age. I loved it all.
San Francisco Member

MIL

98% - Sep 29, 2019

What a beautiful film. I've never seen Banderas in anything like this. The story and acting really touched me. Excellent choice for the club, maybe best ever.
Milwaukee Member

Beautiful film, haunting.
Milwaukee Member

Superb!
Milwaukee Member

A movie that will lead you to want to see it again.
Milwaukee Member

Wonderful! Fantastic!
Milwaukee Member

Beautiful, poignant, brilliant! Already one of my favorite films!
Milwaukee Member

Tremendous acting. Banderas was magnifico!
Milwaukee Member

Wonderful acting, beautiful art!
Milwaukee Member

Great film!
Milwaukee Member

Excellent acting by entire cast! Loved it!
Milwaukee Member

Loved it!
Milwaukee Member

STL

100% - Sep 29, 2019

Brilliant film -- so many layers: childhood, mother's love and support, life's struggles, pain, love, guilt. I suffer from many of the same phsyical pains and infrastructure issues, and understand the struggles. Absolutely love the graphics/special effects at the start of the film.
St. Louis Member

P&G was a brilliant beginning to the fall 2019 season. A masterful, beautiful work of art. Poignant performances rang with truth and a sense of authenticity. Brilliant!
St. Louis Member

I loved it. A profound story of many issues that complicate many people's lives, especially their relationships.
St. Louis Member

A beautiful, thought-provoking work.
St. Louis Member

I think it is the best of Almodavar. So personal and coherent. Also Banderas' best work.
St. Louis Member

Visually, this is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Perfect.
St. Louis Member

ATL

100% - Sep 29, 2019

I've seen almost all of Almodovar's movies. This has to be one of my favorites. So beautifully touching.
Atlanta Member

Almodovar has made a number of remarkable films in his career--a few masterpieces even--and this ranks among his best works, not only for its deep introspective storytelling, but as a tour de force of acting by his lead and proxy Antonio Banderas. [Many cards praised Banderas' performance, and that of Penelope Cruz.]
Atlanta Member

Superb acting by all the players. Cinematography was excellent. Beautifully paced. Raises the bar for the rest of the season!
Atlanta Member

Absolutely loved this very personal and moving film. The film started very slowly but managed to suck you in until you felt swallowed up by the emotion, ups and downs, vivid memories, music and relationships, as well as the profound character development.
Atlanta Member

Beautiful, visually stunning, emotional. [Many favorable comments on the visual style of the film.]
Atlanta Member

I often don't submit reviews but I was transformed by this film--very autobiographical but also gratifying and unifying themes from his childhood and closure of relationships whether it was with the actor, the mother, his first desire, his first love. Antonio Banderas was spectacular. I hope he finds Eduardo.
Atlanta Member

BOS

95% - Sep 22, 2019

What a wonderful surprise!
Boston Member

So moving in multiple ways--very intimate
Boston Member

Beautifully balanced consideration of past and present and the points in between
Boston Member

Loved it, so tangled and yet clearly connected.
Boston Member

Marvelous film!!!!!!!
Boston Member

Gorgeous wonderful!
Boston Member

Fantastic revelations. Can't say enough--a true piece of art.
Boston Member

Loved it, Banderas was amazing.
Boston Member

91% - Sep 22, 2019

The film was breathtaking - mesmerizing. It will take me most of the day to come down from the experience.
Greater New Haven Member

Heart-melting. A sensory overload that left me drained but grateful. The red/aqua color palette was scintillating.
Greater New Haven Member

A feast for the eyes. A visually stunning film. Antonio Banderas was so brilliant and intriguing. Loved it. [Two other members used the term ‘visual feast.’]
Greater New Haven Member

This shifted my perspective on the Almodovar movies I’ve seen. Never was a fan of his but this movie gave me great empathy and forgiveness for his past depiction of women. Wonderful film.
Greater New Haven Member

What a fantastic performance by Antonio Banderas. I also loved the different ways this story was told - through his past, the present, film, theater. Very engaging. Great discussion! [A number of members mentioned the excellent discussion.]
Greater New Haven Member

Beautiful, layered, unique, complex storytelling. The acting is breathtaking in its simplicity and depth. Banderas is compelling. A great film, not without weaknesses, but lovely and important.
Greater New Haven Member

Image after image, what cinema is made for.
Greater New Haven Member

A masterpiece suffused with light and life.
Greater New Haven Member

Thoughtful and honest portrayal of the director’s journey from boyhood to vintage artist. Great acting and beautiful soft lighting. Set design gorgeous.
Greater New Haven Member

So beautiful, so tender, so delicate, and so full of love. A miracle, really. Thank you.
Greater New Haven Member

It was free of 'tortured artist' cliches. His physical suffering was emblematic of his emotional pain. Excellent balance of storyline and extensive flashbacks.
Greater New Haven Member

Great way to begin a new season!!
Greater New Haven Member

93% - Sep 29, 2019

I had decided not to see this movie based on the trailer I had seen a few weeks ago. But I am so grateful to have seen it. The personal journey was incredibly lovely with the glorious art and colors. I was pulled in.
Washington, DC Member

I was reminded again of Almodóvar’s visual artistry - especially his composing with color, from the swirling paisley opening credits to the coordination of colors - his elderly mom in her red/blue print dress walking with her red-shirted son through the solid red cupboards and turquoise tiles of his kitchen - and vibrant paintings behind - an art historical tour de force! Also, the fades to memories were so masterfully integrated with the story - and the corresponding physical with deeply emotional pain - again visually told.
Washington, DC Member

Sumptuous to watch, beautifully paced, filled with love and regret. Glorious. Thank you for this movie!
Washington, DC Member

An incredibly beautiful and engaging movie. The use of art, music and graphics was special. I’m not usually conscious of music in a film, but here it was incredibly engaging and added greatly to my enjoyment of the movie. The acting was top notch and Antonio Banderas’ eyes alone deserve an Oscar!
Washington, DC Member

Almodóvar gives melodrama a good name. So much about this movie could have been maudlin or too much, but it just works.
Washington, DC Member

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