PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EMBASSY OF SPAIN

With his latest film, director Pedro Almodóvar is back to his best as he captivates the viewer with master storytelling in this beautifully crafted study of human relationships. The film covers a variety of themes including the relationship between mother and daughter, coming of age, family relations and the trials and tribulations of marriage.

Julieta’s engrossing life story is told in flashbacks with Emma Suárez playing the middle-aged Julieta and the stunning Adriana Ugarte playing the younger Julieta. When the film opens, we meet the middle-aged Julieta who is living in Madrid with her boyfriend Lorenzo. A chance meeting with Beatriz, the former best friend of her daughter Antia, sends Julieta’s immediate plans of moving to Portugal into turmoil. In this early encounter, Almodóvar presents the question that is central to the rest of the film: what happened to Julieta’s daughter? We are then taken on an emotional journey as Julieta’s story unfolds.

The two actresses playing Julieta are perfectly cast with both of them giving strong heart-warming performances. For me, Julieta is one of the best movies of 2016, up there with Sing Street and Rosalie Blum. Beautifully filmed, deeply moving, suspenseful and superbly acted, it is a cinema experience that is not to be missed.