Weekend Round-Up – The Flower of My Secret Review and The Voice.
It is Monday so it must be time to round-up the viewing that took place in FRC Towers, here is Scott.
What a horrid morning, it is dark, gloomy and raining. Don’t you just love Mondays? No? SNAP.
This morning was a tough one, I found it very hard to drag myself out of bed and come to work. I could have very easily stayed under the covers and dozed all morning. Unfortunately when you have 2 daughters that need to get to school before 9am that is never going to happen. Also when you have 2 daughters, that have a huge amount of love for Jessie J, you find yourself stuck in front of The Voice UK when you would rather be watching a film!!
So that was me this weekend. Watching two nights of The Voice. It isn’t so bad. I am not heartless and I do love to see an underdog triumph, but when it is on both Saturday and Sunday nights, it is a bit too much.
I did get to see one film. Even though I was pretty tired and we didn’t stick the DVD in until 9.30pm last night (which by the way is VERY late to start a film in FRC Towers). We decided to carry on with the Pedro Almodovar season that we started a little while ago. For some reason it got forgotten about, which is such a shame as I just love the Auteur’s work. Last night we watched ‘The Flower of my Secret’, which is a full on melodrama with an Almodovar spin. My review is below.
But first Tom is here with some news of this weekends upcoming GRIMM event…
As huge zombie fans, we are getting very excited about the forthcoming Zombie night which is taking place this Friday 27th April at Manchester Dance House hosted by our good friends from the Grimm up North Team. It is the perfect way to kickstart your weekend with beers from £1.50, a late night bar, and three zombie flicks that are guaranteed to make the night a memorable one. Fancy dress is optional, and with drinks that cheap I have no doubt that there may be a few in attendance who do end up leaving the event shuffling down the street like zombies anyway.
With two premieres and a classic zombie film remastered in HD, the Grimm team really are spoiling us this week. I have had my eyes on the first Cuban zombie film Juan of the Dead for sometime now, the trailer is very intriguing and although there are numerous zombie comedies out there these days, I am pretty sure the Cubans will be able to inject some new life into the genre. Another foreign film, War of the Dead will also be having its premiere at the event and takes place in a Russian forest where a platoon of American and Finnish soldiers come face to face with the living dead. To top off the night we have the cult classic Return of the Living Dead, which is one of the smartest zombie flicks out there that never fails to bring a smile to my face.
Tickets be bought direct from the Grimm website here and are proving very popular. This is a chance to be part of a very fun evening, so grab some tickets for yourself and your friends as you still have four days to get to work on your zombie outfits, the more gruesome the better!
Sounds good huh? Ok here is my review…
The Flower of my Secret
Pedro Almodovar is known for his highly stylised dark comedy but with The Flower of my Secret the Spanish Auteur moves more into the realms of full on Melodrama with a definite Almodovar spin. The Writer-Director skillfully takes us on a journey of a heroine that must travel through despair and depression to rediscovered hope and strength. The performances throughout are stellar and the script is razor-sharp. The film resonates wit, subtlety and surprises, although some people who are familiar with Almodovar’s work may find this a little safe. There are no transvestites, no sex changes, no shock deaths.
Marisa Paredes plays Leo, the lovelorn femme whose marriage to NATO officer Paco is falling apart at the seams. Leo is a successful author of romantic novels, albeit under the pseudonym Amanda Gris. Unfortunately Leo’s failing marriage and consequential depression has made it impossible for her to be able to write a sexy yet safe whimsical romance her contract requires. Instead she finds herself heading to the bottom of a whiskey bottle and writing a dark yet realistic tale of a woman forced to murder when her husband attempts to rape her daughter, they then hide him in a freezer (sound familiar yet? Yes that is right, Leo actually pens the same story that Almodovar made into the brilliant film Volver many years later). Anyway her publishers deem the novel too dark, and unpublishable. This throws Leo even deeper into the downward spiral of depression.
Paredes is stunning in the lead role. Given the challenges she faces the actress brings style and panache to the role. The heroine never loses her grace throughout her plummet and eventual clawing back up onto her feet. She is the heart of the film, but she is surrounded by a great cast that support her fully.
The standout for me was Angel, played by Juan Echanove, a magazine editor who is immediately taken by the charisma and style that Leo exudes, and is blissfully unaware of her secret identity. He hires her to write a scathing review of the latest Amanda Gris novel, which she gladly accepts. There are some very funny interludes with Leo’s Sister and Mother, characters that are apparently inspired by Almodovar’s own family.
The films look and design is much more of a realistic tone than other films I have seen from Almodovar. Primary colours and vibrancy are kept to a minimum. The films is heavily influence by the melodramatic styles of hollywood often using mirrors, screens or grates to hide faces.
The Flower of my Secret may not be as outlandish or as funny as many of the film makers other examples, but it has a rich and real quality that is a fantastic homage to cinema of days gone by. But all the time keeping it very Spanish.
About The Author – Scott Lawlor
Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer. Check out his home set up HERE
Have you seen this film? Are you a fan of the director? Are you going to GRIMM? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
We all have those mornings Scott. I get up very early each day, but there are times I wish I didn’t have to. But since the baby usually wakes around the time I need to get up it’s motivation enough to get out of bed to make her a bottle. As for watching the Voice, the two eldest ones love those type of shows. Personally I don’t like them at all, so I usually don’t watch them (the kids don’t mind watching it upstairs as the can settle in our bed).
Haven’t seen any other Almodovar movies besides The Skin I Live In, so I really should delve deeper into his body of work.
I wish I could send mine up to watch it. But alas they like to view it on the BIG screen!!
You really should. I love every one.
Ooof! The Voice? Really? You’re a good dad!
I’m ashamed of myself – I’ve not seen any Pedro Almodovar films! I really need to see some. Oh wait… I’ve seen Volver! Well, I need to see more then.
HAHA I know!!!
Volver is one of my favourites actually, so you started well.
Ouch The Voice. You need to get those kids into the Almodovar. Don’t let their brains rot before it’s too late! Not seen many of Almodovar’s but did see the film Tomboy which was aweome! Wish I could go to that zombie night up north!
I keep meaning to watch Tom-Boy but it keeps being taken out by other films…
Thanks Pete
I’m dying to see Juan of the Dead. Cuban zombie movie? Who wouldn’t want to see that?
I’ve only just started seeing Almodovar movies. In the last month, I’ve seen Talk to Her and The Skin I Live In. And I went nuts for both of those.
Well we have a cool review of Juan on Monday (from the man Tom).
He has such a great style John, I am super happy you are on board. Not many people get it.
Juan of the Dead is playing here this weekend. Might have to check that out.
Nice to see you working on the Almodovar project again. How many more of his movies do you have left?
I have only 6 left now… Which sounds a lot but I have seen many more!!
Just hard to find the older ones.
I know what you mean about Mondays! It’s sunny here fortunately but soooo hectic, I’ve got 5 meetings in one day which is really too much given my already heavy workload. Glad the day is almost over now so I can catch up on my bloggie friends
Anyway, glad you had a nice weekend though matey!
Thanks Ruth. Monday was especially bad this week. For me and you too it seems!
Nice one Scott. That’s one I actually haven’t seen yet. I mean the Almodóvar not The Voice.
HAHA Thanks BT…. What no loving for The Voice??
I wish I could watch THE VOICE, me always had a soft spot for Danny Donaghue!
I can understand that Dezzy, he is easy on the eye.
it’s not that, but the way he writes his lyrics… melts me every time
Monday is NY was equally crappy. Tuesday was COLD!
I have not seen this film but apparently I am WAY behind in my Almodovar …
It is really cold huh? Here too. I am not feeling the weather this year AT ALL!!
Thanks for popping in my friend.
Sounds like a dark movie? But I watched Volver last year, and did not realize it was by Almodovar (silly me). But yes, those kind of morning are a common thing, and I too have those times where I’m more interested in TV series rather than movies.
This is one of the very few movies by Almodovar I haven’t seen so I’m going to need to see it soon. Great review! It’s very interesting about the look of the movie, I was sure Almodovar’s movies always has the same style.