The Flower of My Secret (La Flor de mi secreto) poster & wallpaper
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Marisa Paredes, Juan Echanove, Imanol Arias, Carmen Elias, Rossy de Palma ... see more see more... , Chus Lampreave , Abraham Garcia , Kiti Manver , Juan Jose Otegui , Jordi Molla , Manuela Vargas , Alicia Agut , Joaquín Cortés

From Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar (Live Flesh, All About My Mother) comes this offbeat drama about Leo Macías (Marisa Paredes), a romance novelist who writes her trashy tomes under the pseudonym A... read more read more...manda Gris. When her marriage begins to dissolve, Leo finds herself falling into despair, leading her to drink and lose her knack for writing her tawdry tales. Out of her turmoil, she writes a bleak novel that garners no attention. To make matters worse, Ángel (Juan Echanove), a newspaper editor with a romantic interest in Leo, hires her to write a scathing review of Amanda Gris, not realizing Gris is Leo's nom de plume. Nominated for several Goya awards, La Flor de Mi Secreto also stars Carmen Elías and Rossy de Palma. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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75% liked it

6,058 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

23 critics

R, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar

Release Date: March 8, 1995

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DVD Release Date: April 12, 2005

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Stats: 266 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (266)

  • SirPant
    November 18, 2011
    SirPant
    The flower of my secret has a much more serious tone to it than most of Almodóvar's films. It's not completely without humour but I did find it to have a welcome element of seriousness. I personally thought Marisa Paredes was brilliant in the lead role and I was entertained throu... read moreghout. I can see why the Almodóvar hard core didn't like it so much though, his usual trashy flare is replaced by a rather sensible sophistication but I generally believe that this is among his better films. I certainly don't think you'd have Volver or Broken Embraces without The Flower of my Secret!
  • fb1341085175
    October 23, 2011
    fb1341085175
    Minor but not less entertaining Almodóvar, filled with his usual visual flair and bizarre and soapoperarish trademarks.
  • hunterjt13
    September 17, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A romance novel writer attempts to save her failing marriage while pursued by her new editor.
    This Almodovar film is simple and simplistic melodrama. There are all the elements: an overly emotional protagonist who obsesses over the wrong man and tries to kill herself, a family d... read morerama with a dying mother, and some coincidences too coincidental to be believed.
    All of the film's flaws notwithstanding, I found Almodovar's dialogue less stilted and her characters a little more realistic than I normally do, so there were some diamonds in the rough. But overall, it's mostly rough.
  • flixsterman
    February 16, 2010
    flixsterman
    A little more 'mainstream' than the Almodóvar I've come to know and love, but still very enjoyable.
  • binky013
    January 28, 2010
    binky013
    It will take a spectacular film from Pedro Almodóvar to knock Hable con ella and Volver out of the #1 and #2 positions on my favorite Almodóvar list. After seeing this one, I'm still looking for that better film. This didn't really strike me as bearing all the Alm... read moreodóvar marks that I admire most. In fact, I found it a bit tedious. But I'll not give up my search. Every one of his productions is worth seeing at least once, just so you can know you've seen it. It's never a waste of time.
  • 76Majikat
    March 1, 2009
    76Majikat
    Although this appears to be one of Almodovar?s best, in terms of the critics, I never quite felt that quality and feel it lacked the Almodovar stamp that sets much of his work apart from others. That being said it was watchable, but without any rise of excitement for me.

    I di... read mored like the references to PD's other work, but this was a reminder that this piece was not in the same league.
  • purplemegan
    April 28, 2007
    purplemegan
    Another good movie from Almodovar. Everyone in this movie has a secret or a different nature that they don't really show anyone. It was full of great imagery that distorted the characters like multiple images reflected in windows and split mirrors.
  • fb1142797643
    March 11, 2011
    fb1142797643
    If the word "dull" could ever be applied to someone like Pedro Almodóvar, "The Flower of My Secret" may be the director's dullest film. The story is thin despite its diverse characterizations, and is wholly free of his usual spice and controversy. The strangest element is ... read morejust a quirky exposition where the protagonist goes hours without being able to remove some undersized boots.

    Maturely glamorous Marisa Paredes plays Leocadia ("Leo" for short), a best-selling romance novelist who writes under the pseudonym "Amanda Gris." Her marriage to a distant, military husband is falling apart, so she has become disillusioned with her literary niche. Hoping to expand her range, she pitches herself as a different sort of writer to Angel, the editor of a local newspaper. An attachment between these two grows and is quite sweet (pudgy, bearded Angel is hardly a typical movie lover), but there's just not much juice to the story beyond this. Mainly, the issue is about Leo being in the odd position of competing with herself, due to her writing being sold via three different identities. Leo's housekeeper and her son also play a role, but they're mostly included to justify an exotic dance performance near the end. A side plot focused on Leo's bickering sister and mother adds colorful dialogue but fails to go anywhere.

    There is a brief, fascinating glimpse of traditional weaving with about 20 minutes to go -- it added nothing to the story, but I'd be interested to learn more about this craft.
  • InaHH
    June 7, 2009
    InaHH
    Marisa Paredes is immaculate in this, she even balances out some minor weaknesses in the narrative flow. Fascinating and captivating story of a woman re-defining herself professionally and personally and distancing herself from a failed relationship. I did not care for the ending... read more at all - but apart from that, another good one from Almodovar.
  • SDTERP
    April 5, 2009
    SDTERP
    I love Almodóvar and this film is great. If you like this, watch Volver for a fun surprise. Almodóvar let Volver blossom from part of this story's plot.

View All The Flower of My Secret (La Flor de mi secreto) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Though The Flower of My Secret is a slight work, it is a pleasing return to form. Full Review

Desson Thomson
December 11, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The movie is full of familiar Almodovar fare, but it feels freshened.

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

An intimate, beautifully wrought work, it reflects a new maturity in Almodovar's work and is one of his best pictures. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

It's a witty, intelligent scramble, and it's beautifully mounted. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Likely to be disappointing to Almodovar's admirers, and inexplicable to anyone else. Full Review

Jeff Millar
January 1, 2000
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

If Leo appears to be doing some more or less orthodox movie-style suffering -- crying jags, a suicide attempt and the like -- perhaps that's just what she's supposed to be doing.

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Secret isn't the usual romp, but it's Almodovar's most committed work in years.

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

A ripe, entertaining soap opera. Full Review

Scott Rosenberg
January 1, 2000
Scott Rosenberg, Salon.com

It slowly unfolds from a narrow satire into a romance that's rich with real-life bitterness. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Though Almodovar touches on many of his favorite absurdities, he does so with surprising subtlety.

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