Talk to Her (2002)
Spanish cinema has the spiciest romance mysteries.
Presentation:
When I created Filmspice, my goal was to promote exciting films for adventurous cinephiles. So when I think of spicy films, Pedro Almodovar is my poster boy. Talk to Her is one of Almodovar’s most iconic films for its sexy and seductive presentation that making you wish you were Spanish. The red, blue and yellow color palettes are lusciously designed and the characters ooze with style. There is a shocking amount of nudity bordering on perverted voyeurism - it’s up to you if it’s tastefully done. This is a very steamy dark romance and one that will linger with you. The themes of this art house film will definitely sustain a lengthy dialogue and the plot should be tantalizing enough for those who want to enjoy a thriller at face value. It also has one of my favorite musical moments in cinema.
Analysis:
The film oddly focuses on the men as opposed to the women, a bit of a left turn from the female-oriented director. From what I gather, the film glazes over the rape to highlight the passivity of women and focus on the sensitive perspective of masculinity. It’s an unorthodox choice, which may even prompt more ethical discussion than by directly addressing the event. There’s a sentiment on love versus abuse, especially through Lydia’s relationships and the bond between men. What is consent? What mysteries really go on in a woman’s mind are they a surrogate for a man’s psychology? At what point do men’s justifications breach their well being? Benigno technically did wake Alicia from a potentially deadly coma that Lydia succumbed to. Or was he the one who orchestrated it to begin with? Are men metaphorical bulls that deliver both the thrill and passion of life? Or is the main message that men are bulls that blindly charge toward red and their carnal love for women inevitably causes damage? Ultimately the ideas are thrown out there like emptying a bag of legos. Its main themes on obsession and love are timeless indicators of human relationships.
Conclusion:
Everything about this steamy mystery is sexy from its visuals, to theme to story. The glaring critique of this film will be its strange resolution, but I could look past the ambiguity grift and still found any incoherencies refreshing. It will be one of the few films where the second watch is as enjoyable as the first. A very spicy film in the Hall of Spice especially if you enjoyed The Skin I Live In.
Recommendations
Let Park Chan Wook cook!