Storyline
Julieta (Emma Suarez) is a middle-aged woman living in Madrid with her boyfriend Lorenzo. Both are going to move to Portugal when she casually runs into Bea, former best friend of her daughter Antia, who reveals that this one is living in Switzerland married and with three children. With the heart broken after 12 years of total absence of her daughter, Julieta cancels the journey to Portugal and she moves to her former building, in the hope that Antia someday communicates with her sending a letter. Alone with her thoughts, Julieta starts to write her memories to confront the pain of the events happened when she was a teenager (Adriana Ugarte) and met Xoan, a Galician fisherman. Falling in love with him, Julieta divides her time between the family, the job and the education of Antia until a fatal accident changes their lives. Slowly decaying in a depression, Julieta is helped by Antia and Bea, but one day Antia goes missing suddenly after a vacation with no clues about where to find ...
Writers: Pedro Almodóvar, Alice Munro, Emma Suárez, Adriana Ugarte, Daniel Grao, Emma Suárez, Adriana Ugarte, Daniel Grao, Inma Cuesta, Darío Grandinetti, Michelle Jenner, Pilar Castro, Nathalie Poza, Susi Sánchez, Joaquín Notario, Priscilla Delgado, Blanca Parés, Ariadna Martín, Rossy de Palma, Sara Jiménez, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Emma Suárez -
Julieta
Adriana Ugarte -
Julieta Joven
Daniel Grao -
Xoan
Inma Cuesta -
Ava
Darío Grandinetti -
Lorenzo
(as Dario Grandinetti)
Michelle Jenner -
Beatriz
Pilar Castro -
Claudia (Madre de Beatriz)
Nathalie Poza -
Juana
Susi Sánchez -
Sara (Madre de Julieta)
Joaquín Notario -
Samuel (Padre de Julieta)
Priscilla Delgado -
Antía (Adolescente)
Blanca Parés -
Antía (18 años)
Ariadna Martín -
Rossy de Palma -
Marian
Sara Jiménez -
Beatriz (Adolescente)
Trivia:
The original screenplay was written in English, but when Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar went scouting to Canada, the director felt insecure to shoot in a place he didn't really know, in a language he didn't master and with a story he felt worked better at Spain. See more »
Goofs:
When the train does an emergency brake and luggage and people are being tossed all over the place a coffee cup and coffee pot in front of the main character remains undisturbed. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 8/10
The screenplay of 'Julieta' is constructed with almost mathematical
precision. In one of the first scenes, director Almodovar presents the
question that is central to the rest of the film: what happened to the
daughter of lead character Julieta? Most of the film consists of a long
flashback, in which he slowly reveals the circumstances and events that
led to her disappearance. At the end of the film, we are back in the
present again, and we know everything there is to know.
It's a story Hitchcock would have been proud of: there is suspense, a
beautiful blonde femme fatale, and psychological story elements. Not
only the story, but also the cinematography is reminiscent of the
master of suspense. Every scene is shot with extreme attention to
lighting, colour and camera angle. Small details are the cherry on the
cake: notice the way Almodovar introduces the birthday cake for the
disappeared daughter: shot from above, as if it is a surreal work of
art. Another example is the short sex scene in the train: the viewer
sees only Julieta's head, but the rest of her body is reflected in the
window pane behind her. As a director, Almodovar wants as much to be in
control as Hitch. The result is a very beautiful film in every way -
even the soundtrack is extremely tasteful.
'Julieta' is an elegantly filmed drama. There are no outrageous
characters, exuberant scenes or other colourful elements we know from
his earlier films. This is a restrained, precise and in every way
immaculate piece of cinema.
0