Film director, screenwriter, and producer Pedro Almodóvar (b. 1951, Calzada de
Calatrava) is Spain’s most internationally awarded filmmaker. Because of his stature, he
is also widely regarded as the most universal Spanish director. His camera has shaped how Spain is seen abroad. Almodóvar’s movies are often based in Madrid, so much so that he is considered the city’s “ambassador.” Madrid’s Office of Tourism has turned the director’s attachment to––and layout of––the city into a commercial opportunity by creating the webpage “Pedro Almodóvar’s Madrid.” This assignment encourages you to learn and think more about how cinematic Spain is exported to the world. His film, Julieta, takes place between Madrid and rural locations in Galicia, Andalucía, and Aragón. For your composition, reflect on the global exposure and representation of “Almodovar’s Spain.” Connect your close readings (I attached 3 readings that could potentially be connected to the movie) of two or three specific scenes to relevant thematic strands from our seminar: urban space, belonging, migration, gender, memory, and so on.
This paper does not require any previous knowledge of formal film analysis. Examples of existing analyses will be available for students upon request. Take it as a chance to reflect on how the movie provoked you. Identify your own set of observations and preoccupations for this essay. There is no need to include any secondary sources, but you might integrate ideas from the material we have covered in class if it’s pertinent to support your argument. Some angles might include: Which Spain is present in this movie, and what role do the city and the rural spaces play in the film’s overall story? How does Julieta represent themes of citizenship, gender, class, and race? How do the female protagonists interact with and inhabit the city? or any other question you want to ask about this movie.