The Flower of My Secret (1995)

An early Almodóvar that is more like a novel from Amanda Gris, the protagonist of the movie. Not brilliant, but a respectable romantic comedy.

Though I found there to be just a bit too much frenetic dialogue, this is still quite a funny evaluation of a failing relationship. It's "Leo" (Marisa Paredes) who has just gone off the boil a bit for her soldier husband "Paco" (Imanol Aris) whose career takes him from war zone to war zone with little time for her. What now ensues is a gradual character evolution for this author of romantic fiction who is conflicted by her affection, to an extent, for "Paco" whilst realising that that way madness lies and a new life is imperative. Now the thrust of the story is hardly innovative. She has a few character flaws of her own - she does like a bottle or two and to be fair to him, it's not like he has just taken up the military responsibilities he has always had. She also has a mother (Manuela Vargas) who might wear down the best of us, and after a while we begin to need more sustained comedy to help us escape the increasing melodrama. Usually Almodovar is better at providing that, but here - well not quite so much. That said, though, this features an engaging effort from an on-form and lively Paredes and her gay friend "Angel" (Juan Echanove) provides an effective foil now and again as this meanders, entertainingly enough, through the women's life of longing, passion and frustration. This is not a film I reckon I will recall for long, but it's a decent enough watch while it's on.