Bannière Horizontale JauneAbout as Almodóvarian as it gets, this adaptation of a trio of Alice Munro stories brings every facet of the Spanish auteur’s unmistakeable heightened and melodramatic style. The formula that constitutes this, Almodóvar’s 20th feature, is highly familiar but, as per usual, finely executed.

Generously played (at different ages) by acting pair Ugarte and Suárez, Julieta is a character given tremendous depth, whose feelings of loss and guilt are the only constants in a life revolving around those absent to her.

The striking imagery and seductive score will come as no surprise to anyone remotely familiar with Almodóvar’s work.

Julieta is emotionally resonant yet far from this auteur’s best – the ingredients are all there, you’ll just wish they were a little less undercooked.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Adriana Ugarte, Emma Suárez, Inma Cuesta, Rossy de Palma

DIRECTOR: Pedro Almodóvar

WRITERS: Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay), Alice Munro (stories)

SYNOPSIS: After a chance encounter with a figure from her past, Julieta (Ugarte & Suárez) confronts the sense of loss in her life by writing to her estranged daughter.

Julieta was screened In Competition at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.