Bitter Christmas (15)

Pedro Almodóvar finds fresh ways to explore the messy relationship between art and emotion in this colourful, cleverly constructed drama.

In 2004, aspiring filmmaker Elsa (Lennie) is struggling for inspiration while enjoying life with her firefighter and stripper boyfriend, Beau (Criado). But Elsa exists within a screenplay being written years later by Raul (Sbaraglia), who is still grieving his mother’s death. As both characters navigate love, loss and personal turmoil, the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to blur.

Almodóvar handles the interwoven timelines with a masterly touch, using striking visuals, richly coloured costumes and gorgeous songs to bring both worlds to life. He makes the creative process feel as unpredictable, chaotic and moving as life itself, mirrored by his characters’ emotions spilling between the two stories. Performances feel refreshingly natural, with Sbaraglia and Lennie bringing warmth to their flawed protagonists, while Sánchez-Gijón builds towards a gripping confrontation. Criado and Gutiérrez also shine in their offbeat roles.

Thoughtful without becoming heavy-handed, this is a fascinating look at how art helps us make sense of feelings we struggle to express.