Pain and Glory: Pedro Almodóvar returns

Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory, his first film since 2016’s Julieta, has just been teased with a brand new trailer for the upcoming Spanish drama – not that the language is really an issue, since the trailer is more of a wordless evocation of some of strong images.

The film follows a filmmaker, in his twilight years, as he recalls his life. Antonio Banderas leads the cast in playing the perhaps Almodóvar-esque director Salvador, who goes through a series of reencounters, both imaginary and real, with people and places he has known, moving from the 1960s to the 1980s.

From childhood, to adult romance, to artistry and filmmaking, Almodóvar’s latest looks like nothing less than a wistful, melancholy evocation of his recurring important themes.

Alongside Banderas, with whom Almodóvar last worked on 2011's The Skin I Live In, is Penelope Cruz, whom he cast in 2006's Volver, as well as (an interesting twist) neo-flamenco sensation Rosalía. The nature of both female roles in the film are currently unclear, although in the trailer Cruz dries clothes on a line and casts mysterious glances.

Longing, beauty and pain – this is definitely classic Almodóvar territory.