Talk to Her

“Talk to Her” is a 2002 Spanish film written and directed by Pedro Almodovar. The film is a dramatic film based off the lives of two men, Marco and Benigno. The first time these two men cross paths is at a theater, unaware of who each other are they don’t think much of it till Beningno recognizes Marco at the hospital. Marco is at the hospital to visit the love of his life, a woman named Lydia. Lydia is a famous matador who after being viciously gored by a bull is put into a coma.  Benigno is a nurse at the hospital and personal caretaker of a patient in a coma there named Alicia. Alicia is a beautiful young dance student who Benigno has known previously before the coma. Secretly Benigno has been in love with Alicia for a long time, even though he barely knows her.   We see both the story of Marco and Lydia as well as the story of Benigno and Alicia unfurl through a series of flashbacks. Eventually after these two men become acquainted they develop into very good friends and share their stories with each other.

After being informed by Lydia’s ex-lover that a month before her coma they reunited as lovers, Marco leaves the hospital and travels to Jordan for work. In Jordan, Marco is made aware that not only has Lydia past away in her coma but Alicia has been discovered to become pregnant in her coma. It is discovered that Benigno has raped her out of the far-fetched mindset that she feels the same way about him and they are together in love. Benigno is sent to jail where he develops the idea to escape jail and be reunited with Alicia. He tries to overdose of pills and be transferred to the hospital where she is, however his overdose turns fatal. Ironically, during childbirth Alicia wakes up out of her coma. Marco, who has come back to Spain, moves into Benigno’s old apartment across form Alicia’s. He eventually runs into Alicia at a show in a theatre. The end scene finishes with Marco and Alicia catching glances at each other and the words saying “Marco y Alicia,” possibly implying they will form some sort of relationship now.

Overall, I felt the film was very good and well made. The use of flashbacks really helped as to understand the characters on a deeper level.  Although some parts of the story I found very unusual and some of the imagery to be bizarre, I felt that the story was strong and was represented as best possible. The acting was very good, which was definitely needed for a film based so highly of human emotion and human psyche. I do recommend the to any of those looking to widen their range of film.