La flor de mi secreto (The Flower of My Secret). 1995. Spain. Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. With Marisa Paredes, Imanol Arias, Carme Elías, Rossy de Palma, Chus Lampreave, Juan Echanove. DCP. In Spanish; English subtitles. 103 min.
Signaling a shift in direction, this Almodóvar picture takes on a more tame, emotional tone. Leo (Marisa Paredes), a middle-aged writer of popular romantic novels, despises her own work so much that she pseudonymously writes a scathing review of herself for a newspaper. At home she is equally miserable. Her husband (Imanol Arias), who works overseas, is distant both physically and emotionally. Her mother (Chus Lampreave) and sister (Rossy de Palma) are a maniacal pair constantly bickering with one another. Yet the appearance of a new editor (Juan Echanove) offers an opportunity for Leo to reassess her life.