Pedro Almodovar’s Potential Cannes Contender ‘Bitter Christmas’ Draws Upbeat Reviews in Spain
Why it matters: “Bitter Christmas” is projected to earn $2.9 million-$3.1 million in Spain, potentially outperforming Almodóvar's previous English-language film.
- El Mundo declared “Bitter Christmas” a “masterpiece,” praising it as Almodóvar’s “deepest, rawest and most complex film.”
- El Periódico de Catalunya described the film as a “precise, serene melodrama,” seeing it as a continuation of themes from “Pain and Glory.”
- Screen Daily and El Diario Vasco offered differing views, calling it a “personal, messy drama” and wishing Almodóvar was “less wrapped up in himself.”
- El Blog del Cine Español predicted “Bitter Christmas” will reach $2.9 million-$3.1 million at the Spanish box office, potentially surpassing “The Room Next Door.”
- Critics are divided by the film's structure, which features a film-within-a-film and a strong focus on Almodóvar's own creative process.
Pedro Almodóvar's latest film, “Bitter Christmas,” is generating significant buzz and largely positive early reviews in Spain, positioning it as a strong contender for the Cannes Film Festival. While some Spanish critics like El Mundo hail it as a “masterpiece” and a “deep, raw” exploration of creation, others, including Screen Daily and El Diario Vasco, find it a “messy drama” too self-absorbed in Almodóvar's creative process.
