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So many good things come from Spain. Lovely warm weather, the traditional bull-fighting, Javier Bardam, Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar! This 2006 comedy-crime-drama written and directed by none other than the infamous Pedro Almodovar starred dazzlingly talented and beautiful Penelope Cruz, delightful Carmen Maura, Lola Duenas and Blanca Portillo.

Nominated for an Oscar with 53 wins and 53 nominations this film is certainly worth seeing. A strange yet enigmatic and addicting tale of the lives of women in a small village in Spain and the series of superstitious and harrowing events that unfurl in succession to resolve unfinished business and motherly support and truth. Delicately filmed with heart-wrenching performances, it is easy to see why this film is a cinematic gem.

With a run-time of 121 minutes and a budget just under 2 million pounds, Almodovar’s film was produced by production companies Canal + Espana, El Deseo S.A., the Ministry of Culture and Spanish Television (TVE). The distributors too many to name and had special effects done by El Ranchito. You may know some of Almodovar’s successful film titles like: ‘Talk to Her’, ‘Matador’ and ‘All About My Mother’ to name a few; it was Penelope’s dream to work with him on set and her dream finally came true in 2006; the beginning of a long line of future collaborations.

Viva la Espana! J