Penelope Cruz and Pedro Almodovar join in "Broken Embraces"

amplify image

Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz. Photo: EFE

Oscar winning director Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz talked about their new film " Broken Embraces " ( Los Abrazos Rotos ) at a press conference in Madrid today.( May 9 2008 )

The filming will start on the Canary island Lanzarote on 26th May. It tells the story of a provincial actress who is relentlessly pursued by a powerful financier.

"In general terms I would say that the film is an "Amour Four" love story. It is an "absolute" love story lived by 4 people who are Penelope Cruz, Blanca Portillo, Lluis Omar and Jose Luis (Gomez), explained the director.

"I am not sure if it will turn out OK. For me the most important thing is to be absolutely excited about what I am going to do, that is the measure that tells me that I have to do a film. Now I have this feeling. I want to do this film and I want to see images of this story as soon as possible. That is what I need to work! I have never been so sure in all the 16 films I have made." he went on.

Cruz, who was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars in 2007 for her part in Almodovar's last film, "Volver", told AP : " We have been rehearsing for more than three months now and that's a huge privilege for actors because we never get that much time with a director. He always does that and I am enjoying very much the process."

The actress will don a special wig for the part, as Almodovar explains: "This time I have chosen a short silver blond wig with a lot of volume. It makes Penelope look a little artificial but her look and her eyes get all deep and very passionate."

"Broken Embraces ", is an original script by the director, written after the exhausting experience of promoting ' Volver'. The director was struck down with headaches and had to spend months in a dark room so his inspiration literally came from darkness and according to Cruz it is his best script ever.

"He is brilliant every minute of the day and it is very inspiring to be next to him. He dedicates his life to the movie. It's like "time stops" for him and that's contagious and we live that way too when we are working with him. And apart from been able to learn so much from somebody who has that much talent, and wit and intelligence and somebody that is so special, as we all know, you also have a lot of fun, because he is like this all the time." according to the actress.

Some other old friends of Almodovar like Rossy de Palma or Chus Lampreave, will work with him again on this film. Angela Molina (Live Flesh), Lola Dueñas (Volver) and Blanca Portillo (Volver), will also make an appearance.

The film will tentatively be out in 2009.