The Spanish capital is at the centre of an exhibition dedicated to the filmmaker

An exhibition traces the relationship between Pedro Almodovar and Madrid. The city often constitutes a character in its own right in his films.

Pedro Almodovar, the most famous Spanish film director, finally has his exhibition in Spain and it is in Madrid that it is happening. It is no coincidence that the filmmaker’s career is closely linked to the Spanish capital. The city is present in 100% of the director’s 23 feature films.

In this exhibition, which can be visited at the Conde Duque cultural center until October 20, Madrid is described as “chica Almodovar”, “Almodovar girl”, in other words, her favorite actress. “She appears, with more or less intensity, in each of the titles of Pedro’s filmography and thus establishes herself as the character par excellence of Almodovar’s vibrant universe.”explains Pedro Sanchez, the exhibition curator, in the exhibition audio guide.

This is not a postcard Madrid, but a Madrid that is sometimes realistic and social, sometimes painted in bright and fictional colours to take revenge on the darkness of the Franco regime of the filmmaker’s youth. Almodovar and Madrid is a love story also told in the first person, with a speech by the director from 2018 reproduced in the exhibition.

“I came mainly to escape the countryside, to urbanize myself a little and then go and live in Paris or London. But, without realizing it, I ended up staying and almost 50 years have passed. Now I can say that both I and my characters are going to stay here.”

Pedro Almodovar, director

franceinfo

But Almodovar’s next film was shot… in New York. An exception that proves the rule, the people of Madrid want to believe.