High Heels (1991)
Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins
Synopsis: This colorful blend of kinky sex, melodrama, and murder features Spanish star Victoria Abril as Rebeca, a news anchorwoman for Madrid television who finds her life turned upside down when her diva movie star mother (Marisa Paredes) comes to visit from abroad for a concert. Poor Rebeca has... This colorful blend of kinky sex, melodrama, and murder features Spanish star Victoria Abril as Rebeca, a news anchorwoman for Madrid television who finds her life turned upside down when her diva movie star mother (Marisa Paredes) comes to visit from abroad for a concert. Poor Rebeca has always been trapped in her mother's shadow, even marrying one of her ex-husbands, Manuel (Féodor Atkine) in a misguided attempt to measure up. When that ex-husband winds up murdered, Rebeca suspects her mother and confesses to the crime on national television in an effort to protect her. She winds up in jail but finds love and support with some tough but tenderhearted women and from a mysterious policeman who thinks she's innocent. The film features a great musical jail sequence and more than a few other nifty surprises in this twist-laden tale by the celebrated Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. An especially perverse highlight is Rebeca's tryst with a drag queen (Miguel Bosé) impersonating her famous mother. HIGH HEELS also features Javier Bardem, Cristina Marcos, Bibí Andersen, Lupe Barrado, and a typically wonderful score by Ryuichi Sakamoto. [More]
Genre: Foreign Films
Starring: Marisa Paredes, Victoria Abril, Miguel Bosé
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Reviews
Unlike this director's best work, High Heels has no real mirth and not even enough energy to keep it lively.
The director knows what he wants to say, but isn't too sure how to go about saying it.
It's bright and spunky and playfully melodramatic, but something's missing.
Pedro Almodovar's films are an acquired taste, and with High Heels I am at last beginning to acquire it.

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