THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET
Spain, 1995, 102 minutes, Colour.
Marese Paredes, Juan Echanove, Carme Elias, Rossy de Palma, Chus Lampreave, Kiti Manver, Joaquin Cortes, Manuela Vargas, Jordi Molla.
Directed by Pedro Almodovar.
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has relished his reputation as an enfant terrible, with his controversial subjects and his irreverent treatment of serious issues. He must be getting older or something...
This is a perfectly respectable drama influenced by Hollywood high-class soap-opera. It is straightforward (although there is a trace of his old kinkiness in a mother-son flamenco ballet) and raises issues of relationships, marriage, betrayal and obsession. In the past, Almodovar has used the intense and devouring Carmen Maura to give power to his films. Now he has discovered Marisa Paradese. She is an extraordinary screen presence as a writer of Mills and Boon style romances but who flounders obsessively in her own.
On paper, the movie seems conventional enough. But with the star and Almodovar's love of melodrama, the film is arresting and entertaining.
1. The title? The reference to soap opera? Mills and Boon?
2. Madrid, the 1990s? The city, the buildings, externals, traffic? Homes and interiors? Publishing offices? The office for organ donations? Clubs? An affluent world? The references to the military in the Balkan wars of the 1990s?
3. The musical score, the songs, the dancers?
4. The portrait of Leo, Marisa Paredes and her presence in Almodovar films? An obsessive woman? Scenes of her typing? The importance of writing? The absence of Paco and his military service? Her devotion, leading to obsession? Wanting him to answer is phone calls, the return, the food, the shower, his decision to leave? Becoming emotionally frantic?
5. The writing, the revelation about her books, her articles and the novel, going for the job interview, the encounter with Angel, his interest, his liking the novels she disliked? Her own soap opera novels? Her wanting anonymity in the newspaper? Going to the publisher, wanting to break her contract? Discussions, the threat to sue and the breaking of the contract? Alicia and her interest in publicity? The manuscript and Bigas Luna wanting to film it?
6. Leo and her mother, her mother’s continued complaints, living with Rosa, Rosa being trapped yet staying? Her mother’s continued criticisms? Wanting to go back to the village? Her going, Leo going with her, giving her financial support? Her relationship with Rosa, the outings and the meals? Rosa’s own life?
7. The world of the donors, the opening film, the story of Juan’s mother, dead at 16? Revealed to be a film rehearsal? The actors, the impersonations, Betty and the seminars, the range of scenarios and the evaluation sessions?
8. Betty, her friendship, the seminars, continually available to Leo, the meals, listening, advice? Leo and the visit after Paco’s departure, the phone call, the truth about the affair and Betty telling her?
9. Blanca, the devoted maid, at work in the house? The son and his presence? His persuading Leo to let his mother go for the dance rehearsals? Her reputation as a dancer, the past? The disappearance of the earrings? Angel going to the dance with her, the impact of the performance? Going home, Antonio and his visit, the sexual implications, refusing, his confessing to the stealing of the jewels, his also taking the manuscript and selling it to the film producer?
10. Angel, his character, as editor of the paper, his interest in literature, attracted to Leo, offering the job? His differing from her on the opinion of her novels? His not knowing? The articles, his acceptance? The delight in being published? The manuscript as private? The outings, going to the theatre, drinking, dancing, their walking the town, his proposal, her going home?
11. Alone, wanting to give up drinking, to be not so obsessed with herself? And her going to Angel’s house?
