Talk to Her

Talk to Her is a fantastic film made by Pedro Almodovar. The film won an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay. The story takes place in Spain about a chance encounter between two men, Benigno and Marco. The story begins when the two men happen to be sitting next to each other at a play. The film then flashes back to reveal the story behind these two men. Marco is a journalist and traveler who falls in love with a female bullfighter, Lydia. The two became a close couple who then start to have some problems. Lydia has an accident and goes into a coma. Benigno is a personal nurse who is the caregiver of a comatose woman, Alicia. The film flashes back to reveal more of Benigno's story. Alicia was a dancer who practiced in a studio across the street from Benigno's apartment. They met on the street one day and Benigno started to become obsessed with her, however Alicia got into a car accident and went into a coma. Benigno along with another nurse was hired to personally take care of her and for the past four years he has been taking well care of her and becoming more obsessed with her. The two men meet in the hospital and develop a bond and become good friends. Marco then discovers that Lydia had reconnected with her ex-boyfriend, El Nino, and she was going to leave him. Marco then decides to leave the country and go do work in Jordan. Before he leaves Benigno tells Marco about his plans of marrying Alicia and Marco is taken aback and tells his friend never to repeat that. After Marco leaves problems arise in the hospital when Alicia turns up pregnant and it is discovered that Benigno has raped her. Eight months later Marco hears of Lydia's death and tries to contact Benigno to learn more of it. Marco then discovers about Benigno's accusation of rape and his imprisonment. He returns to Spain to help Benigno. During his return to Spain Benigno allows Marco to rent his old apartment across from the studio. Benigno wants Marco to find out what happened to baby since no one will tell him. Benigno's lawyer tells Marco Alicia has awakened that the baby died and informs him it would be best not to tell Benigno. Benigno is depressed and cannot go on living without Alicia so he leaves Marco a message and then proceeds to consume a large quantity of pills hoping to go into a coma to be with Alicia. Marco tries to make it on time to tell Benigno the truth but it was too late. Benigno had died of an overdose. Meanwhile Alicia had began rehabilitation to walk and dance and the film ends when Marco runs into Alicia at the same theatre he and Benigno were at.
The major themes that were expressed in Talk to Her were tragedy, romance, love, and emotional bonds. Talk to Her is a complicated film with a soap opera feel to it. It is however a tragedy. The two leading characters in the film were two men who shared a strong bond; they were both in love with women who were in comas and who were never expected to recover. One of the men had trouble trying to talk and express his emotions to his comatose lover. The other man had no problem talking and expressing his emotions to the woman in a coma he loved, however before she was in a coma she barely knew him and did not love him. It's a very tragic film with a glimpse of hope at the end.  

After watching Talk to Her I felt it was a fantastic film. The story was very great. It was tragic but very touching and dramatic. The actors were fantastic. I was drawn into the two leading characters. I felt Almodovar's techniques style of filmmaking were very great. I am now interested in seeing more of his films. Talk to Her is a film I would recommend to many people.