Pedro Almodóvar once said that this film is where he’s been cruelest with himself.

There are countless references to him personally and his career, as he tells two stories that are intimately connected, one set in 2004, the other twenty years later. They’re examples of autofiction, where the director is represented by both a migraine-stricken female filmmaker, Elsa, and an older icon of the cinema, Raúl, who’s writing a screenplay about his alter ego, Elsa.

A tormented portrait of the urge to write, and the pain it might inflict on others. Not always compelling, but sharply crafted. 

2026-Spain. 111 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Music: Alberto Iglesias. Cast: Bárbara Lennie (Elsa), Leonardo Sbaraglia (Raúl), Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (Mónica), Victoria Luengo, Patrick Criado, Milena Smit. 

Trivia: Original title: Amarga Navidad.