Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces) (Broken Hugs) poster & wallpaper
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Penelope Cruz, Blanca Portillo, Lluis Homar, José Luis Gómez, Rubén Ochandiano ... see more see more... , Tamar Novas , Ángela Molina , Chus Lampreave , Kiti Manver , Lola Dueńas , Mariola Fuentes , Carmen Machi , Kira Miro , Alejo Sauras , Rossy de Palma

A follow-up to Spanish enfant terrible Pedro Almodóvar's 2006 arthouse sensation Volver, Los Abrazos Rotos finds the filmmaker re-teaming with actress Penélope Cruz and working on a canvas much broade... read more read more...r than those of his previous outings, in terms of genres covered, narrative scope, and duration. Lluís Homar stars as the former Mateo Blanco, a screenwriter and ex-director who changed his name to Harry Caine after losing his sight in an automobile accident. A past scandal suddenly resurfaces when the news arrives that the producer of one of Harry's old movies ("Girls and Suitcases"), a corrupt stockbroker named Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez), has died. For mysterious reasons, this makes Harry's ex-production manager Judit (Blanca Portillo) nervous; then Ernesto's son, Ray X (Rubén Ochandiano), turns up and asks Harry to help him write a vindictive script to get back at his vile father. The film subsequently flashes back to the early '90s, when Martel became involved with his secretary, Lena (Cruz), but Mateo also began to develop feelings for her, and auditioned her for "Girls and Suitcases." In response to Mateo's interest in Lena (and her burgeoning interest in him), the jealous Martel commissioned Ray to make a documentary about the making of "Girls and Suitcases" as an excuse to spy on the director and star. This enabled him to watch Mateo spiriting off with Lena right under his nose, and set the stage for the wily producer's elaborate revenge against Mateo. As this synopsis suggests, Almodóvar uses a tricky structure laden with flashbacks to both comment on and explain the events of the present; he also interweaves a noirish sensibility throughout the picture that marks something of a first for this director. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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74% liked it

19,089 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

144 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar

Release Date: November 20, 2009

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DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010

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Stats: 1,695 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,695)

  • axadntpron
    April 6, 2012
    axadntpron
    Standard fare for Almodovar. And I dont mean that in a negative way. This man coasting is still leaps and bounds more fascinating than the pet projects of many directors.
    It is hyper-sexual, highly-stylized, and has melodrama oozing out of every pore. The production is regal and... read more elegant, with brilliant colors bursting on screen while characters do their best to control the mess that their elicit passions have made.
    While it may not carry the same weight as Talk to Her or All About My Mother, it is an entertaining story told richly by one of the world's premiere filmmakers.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 14, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    The scope of human suffering and joy is fervently wide in Almodovar's take on love, lust, and relationships in his first broad genre film. The film showcases a beatific premise of following the love affair of two ill fated star crossed lovers, thrown together in the strangest of ... read morecircumstances, beating back barriers put up by a powerful ex-lover. The story isn't very complex or hard to follow by any means, but there is a lot of explanation and back-story included, a series of confessional conversations between the intertwining characters. Each of the characters in this film are intricately developed, none without some study of their personality, or what has lead them to their current position. The film spans sixteen years in total, encompassing a painful journey for aspiring actress and former secretary Lena (Cruz) now embroiled in a purely profit escapade with financier Martel (Gomez) and an affair with screenwriter and director Mateo (Homar). Cruz is obviously Almodovar's muse, their second collaboration after Volver. He showcases the sterling beauty with many shots of her smiling, head tilted, vulnerable to the point of a newborn fawn. Without Cruz, the sweetness of the film would have been drained for a tenser thriller between their love and the oppositional Ernesto. It's shot beautifully, the subject matter is plain but well executed, and the acting is truly wonderful. I'd say one of Almodovar's best films to date.
  • hunterjt13
    July 28, 2011
    hunterjt13
    Upon the death of a millionaire, a blind writer recalls his affair with the dead man's wife.
    Typical of Almodovar, this film features lush scenery, colorfully disparate characters, and Penelope Cruz giving a very good performance. It is also superbly structured; the mystery isn'... read moret revealed until the second act, and the reveal is natural, not contrived, organic.
    I would have liked to have seen the woman who opens the film fit somewhere in the flashback. Also, I don't think the film that is central to the past action reveals much about the characters, and it certainly shouldn't have been used as the climax.
    But these are minor issues in an otherwise very strong drama. Overall, this is the best Almodovar film I've seen, and after this film, in which all the stylistic signatures I've seen in his other work come together, I can see why he is an acclaimed director.
  • deano
    July 10, 2011
    deano
    Magnificent! Pedro Almodóvar continues to flirt with Hitchcockian high-style melodrama, even as he defaults to kooky, primary-coloured comedy. The Spanish film journeys between the past and the present, and interweaves diverse stories and viewpoints, to construct a fascinating dr... read moreama full of twists and turns. The plot has a complex, but perfect screenplay with use of flashbacks with a marvelous development of the characters.
    This is a teasing fantasy about cinema, romance, possibility, comedy, tragedy and charm. Penelope Cruz seesaws between the styles of Audrey Hepburn and Tippi Hedren, but has gained a peppery screen personality of her own, which makes her more than just an old movie ghost, while Lluis Homar is restrained, complicated and potentially a breakout character actor superstar.
  • Saxia
    May 15, 2011
    Saxia
    Aiaiai! I like Penelope, but this movie lacked a good story, and chemistry between the actors! I've seen many of Almodovar's movies, but this one bored me to tears.
  • SirPant
    December 20, 2010
    SirPant
    You kind of know what you're going to get with Pedro Almodóvar, his work is synonymous with quality. Broken Embraces balances drama, humour and tension brilliantly, it may be a little predictable in places but is never boring. Is there a more reliable director?
  • MrMarakai
    October 3, 2010
    MrMarakai
    Director Pedro Almodovar yet again delivers what he does best. Another portrayal of human nature and the complexities of relationships.
    Lluis Homar plays blind writer 'Harry Caine' who, while being supported with his daily duties, agrees to help a young man with his idea for a b... read moreook. In the process of helping him, he is forced to look back at his own life. Revealing that 14 years ago, he was in fact, renowned film director 'Mateo Blanco', who shared a passionate relationship with his leading actress 'Lena' (Cruz) that put both their lives in danger, and lead to tragedy and Harry's blindness.
    Almodovar returns with his muse, Penelope Cruz and his usual convoluted story arches as well as his eye for beautiful imagery. As ever, his direction is methodical and visually splendid and draws another fine performance from Cruz - who really seems to raise her game when working with him. It's Lluis Homar who impresses most though. At just over two hours, it demands a level of commitment but, as ever, it's rewarding. Teasingly, releasing pieces of the story bit by bit and delivering his usual dramatic revelations with ease.
    It's by no means his best but it's another fine addition to Almodovar's catalogue of high quality film making.
  • Alireza64ir
    September 2, 2010
    Alireza64ir
    Another satisfying movie from one of the best directors of recent decades,Pedro Almodovar.There are many admirable characteristics of his spectacular cinema that we can mention.Personally i just dont like his sense of humor and whenever he tried to use less comedy themes,result w... read moreas fabulous, like Volver and Talk to her.
  • imrealgod
    August 20, 2010
    imrealgod
    Creepy, peepy, trippy. Okay, that's not exactly what this movie is, but one of the characters kept reminding me of these words quite often while watching the movie; so I couldn't help mentioning it here.

    It's basically a love story executed in a thriller form with a few twists &... read more turns thrown in, which unfortunately are quite predictable. While the rest of the cast was appropriate, Penelope Cruz was a big turn off for me here. I can't understand why this bamboo stick is still an actress. She neither looks attractive nor is she a gifted/talented actress. I find her acting to be mediocre at best. (To each, his own, anyway.) Despite of all this, I found the movie quite watchable. Though it was predictable, I liked the way it maintained the mystic element that kept me hooked to it. The background music is also noteworthy. It was quite in sync with the proceedings & got even better during tense moments. 6.5/10.
  • guaybanex
    May 22, 2010
    guaybanex
    Middle of the road Almodovar fare is still beguiling. Again Cruz delivers for Almodovar in this Hitchcockian-like twisty affair that goes on a bit too long.

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Critic Reviews

Tom Long
January 8, 2010
Tom Long, Detroit News

While it may not be Almodóvar's greatest work, it still stands well above most other films in terms of intrigue, intelligence and innovation. Full Review

J. R. Jones
January 8, 2010
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

This melancholy romance is the first Almodovar feature I've ever really liked, an expertly fashioned melodrama that steers mercifully clear of his usual puckishness and star-mongering. Full Review

Roger Moore
January 6, 2010
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

One failing in the film is how boring it is to watch Cruz pretend to be a bad actress. The comic movie within a movie, which borrows from Women on the Verge, isn't funny. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
December 28, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It all adds up to an entertaining mash of suspense and melodrama. Full Review

Chris Vognar
December 28, 2009
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

As long as Almodovar keeps investing such thought and energy in his work, he can play with whatever themes he desires. Full Review

Randy Cordova
December 26, 2009
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic

The story is twisted and complex, yet it emerges as sleek and unfussy. The characters' actions are grandly melodramatic, but the movie is close and intimate. Full Review

Wesley Morris
December 25, 2009
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

It's both ridiculous and ridiculously romantic, which is an apt description of a work shaped like a heart and structured like a pretzel. Full Review

Colin Covert
December 25, 2009
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Pedro Almodovar's latest movie is positively drunk in its desire for handsome actors and beautiful actresses, gorgeously art-directed sets, suspense, comedy, ironic flashbacks, tragic romance. Full Review

James Berardinelli
December 24, 2009
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Perhaps Almodovar and film noir simply don't mix. Full Review

Roger Ebert
December 22, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Broken Embraces is a voluptuary of a film, drunk on primary colors, caressing Penelope Cruz, using the devices of a Hitchcock to distract us with surfaces while the sinister uncoils beneath. Full Review

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