PLEASE DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM YET AND DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THE END!
Talk To Her has been extravagantly praised by many people and critics whose opinions I respect, including the burghers of Joniville. I was left feeling really uneasy, however, mainly because of the issue of the rape of the ballerina whilst in a coma. It seems we are expected to swallow the proposition that by having this seemingly caring but (I found) creepy, frankly deranged man force himself on her while she is in no position to have any say in the matter, her life is saved. Do me a favour! This is not the first time Almodovar has sailed close to the wind around the issue of rape - remember that scene in Kika where, if memory serves, a rape scene is pretty much played for laughs? I didn't find it very funny. I am not sure how Almodovar gets away with scenes like this. Perhaps because of his larger-than-life and sometimes hysterically camp stories and sensibilities? Because he does have great roles for women in his films? I dunno. There were things about the film I thought were great, particular the performances of the two ballerinas, teacher and pupil, Caetano Veloso's cameo and, best of all, the silent film-within-the-film. But the ending was too pat, and overall I thought it was a big step back from Live Flesh and All About My Mother. Azeem in London
