Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine.
Ingrid went on to become an auto-fiction novelist while Martha became a war reporter, and they were separated by the circumstances of life.
After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.
Almodovar's film have always been flamboyant and somewhat blasé, so I was very surprised to learn that he was going down a dark path with a film about euthanasia, especially as this was his fist English language film. But it's all there, the usual colourful, and ever so slightly camp film that he usually brings us. But this time, Banderas must have been busy.....
Moore and Swinton are perfect as long lost friends, who reconnect with each other after Ingrid learns that Martha has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. 'The bad cancer' as one character puts it.
And just like close friends, as soon as they see each other, it's as if they only saw each other just the other day. The main subject is the elephant in the room, but it's rarely mentioned, and when it is brought up, Ingrid seizes up, as if she is the person with the illness, and Martha being the one doing all the reassurance.
And this is why the film is so positive, it makes the audience realise that death can be blasé, death can be what you want it to be, death isn't something that you should fear. Martha is the most positive character in the whole film, and when she wants to talk about the inevitable, she does it in a sprightly way, as if it's something she is optimistic about.
Because she is in charge. She's her own Grim Reaper.
So all in all, it's a very positive film, with a very positive message, it allows you to want to enjoy your life, no matter who you are, or what you have achieved. Death doesn't care about your status or achievements. Death will come to us all, and we can do nothing about it. Literally nothing.
So savour every day.....
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