‘Broken Embraces’ to play at WMU’s Little Theater

By Katie White
Western Herald

The Kalamazoo Film Society’s March movie is a noir-style foreign film about a tragic love story.
“Broken Embraces” is directed by Pedro Almodovar and was on critics’ top 10 lists for 2009. At the Cannes Film Festival it received critical acclaim and top honors.

At this past Golden Globes award ceremony it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It stars Penelope Cruz and Lluis Homar. The movie plays in Spanish with English subtitles. Its running time is two hours and eight minutes.

“It’s always really cool to go to a movie at the Little Theater because you feel like you’re getting that true indie movie experience,” said George “Chip” Wasinsky, a WMU senior.

“I get to take advantage of seeing great films that are hidden gems, and ‘Broken Embraces’ is definitely one of those. I’m not one to go out and watch something Penelope Cruz is in, but the way the director did the movie, it’d definitely be worthwhile to see.”

Broken Embraces is centered on Lluis Homar’s character Mateo Blanco (and later Harry Caine), who is a successful director. He loses his sight and then the love of his life, Lena, played by Penelope Cruz. He is constantly trying to escape his emotional past.

Fast forward to present day, and Harry Caine is living his life as a blind writer. He has kept his past a complete secret, not wanting to face it or share it with anyone else. Because of this, Caine closes himself off to everyone but his wife and son.

His repressed past, emotions, and memory come to the surface one drug-fueled night with his assistant who begins to ask questions he hasn’t answered in decades. Because of this night, stories start to unravel, the truth comes out, and Mateo Blanco, the director, decides to resurface.

“Penelope Cruz seems to star in slightly more profound dramas,” Wasinsky added.

The movie is a very interesting yet tumultuous love story with grand elements of blackmail and drama.  The director’s attempt at an American noir film is superb. It has a 1950s feel to it, all the while using bright colors that the director is known for.

“Broken Embraces” has been called Hitchcockian in its look and its ability to keep the audience on the edge of the seat and asking questions. Critics have also called it a beautiful love story, romantic, suspenseful and ironic.

“Broken Embraces” will be playing at the Little Theater on WMU’s East Campus. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 with a valid student ID. The movie runs on Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Saturday, March 13 at 4:30, 7 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 14th at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.and 7:30 p.m.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Mar 10 2010. Filed under A & E, Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
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