{"id":1442,"date":"2016-03-30T11:39:13","date_gmt":"2016-03-30T10:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/?p=1442"},"modified":"2016-03-30T11:39:51","modified_gmt":"2016-03-30T10:39:51","slug":"10-almodovar-madrid-movie-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/2016\/03\/30\/10-almodovar-madrid-movie-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Almod\u00f3var Madrid Movie Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Crown

Crown of Thorns, The Skin I Live In<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Pedro Almod\u00f3va<\/strong>r is set to release his latest film Julieta<\/em><\/strong> and once again the Spanish capital will be part of the characteristically eclectic backdrop. For decades, the Manchego maestro has weaved his cinematic stories through the streets of Madrid<\/strong>; capturing the city\u2019s ever-changing tapestry of stark contrasts, colourful personalities and its gentle metamorphosis into a modern European capital. A movie marathon of Almod\u00f3var\u2019s work feels like a warts-and-all love letter to his adopted home-town, but it also one of the best ways to charter the capital\u2019s transformation<\/strong>. If you\u2019re looking to step through the silver screen and discover Madrid according to the vision of one of Spain\u2019s most celebrated directors<\/strong>, here are 10 local landmarks to chart your course.<\/p>\n

\"Bar

Bar La Bobia, Labyrinth of Passion<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

1.\u00a0<\/strong>Bar La Bobia (Labyrinth of Passion<\/em>, 1982)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Calle San Mill\u00e1n 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

In one of his earliest features, Alm\u00f3dovar profiles the bar La Bobia with exquisite detail. The bar is renowned for being one of the key locations during Madrid\u2019s La Movida<\/strong> counter-cultural movement and is located close to the El Rastro<\/strong> strip, which transforms into a different kind of labyrinth of passion every Sunday in the form of a flea market. The bar is present from the film\u2019s opening in which the two main characters Riza Niro<\/strong> (Imanol Arias) and Sexi<\/strong> (Cecilia Roth) sit and smoke on the pavement terrace. In its hey day the bar was the perfect microcosm of Madrid\u2019s rambunctious Movida<\/em> spirit, frequented by the vanguard of the city\u2019s writers, rockers, musicians, punks, and painters. After closing for a spell, it was recently re-opened<\/strong><\/a> under the same name but is a much tamer affair; serving a sumptuous selection of Asturian cuisine and with not a mohawk in sight.<\/p>\n

\"Viaducto,

Viaducto, Matador<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

2.\u00a0<\/strong>Viaducto<\/a> (Matador<\/em>, 1986; Broken<\/em> Embraces<\/em>, 2009; I\u2019m So Excited<\/em>, 2013)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Calle de Bail\u00e9n<\/strong><\/p>\n

This iconic bridge<\/strong> has appeared in so many Almod\u00f3var films that it has become somewhat of a staple. Many film buffs believe it has become a motif of la muerte<\/em> (death) given the bridges dangerous history. It first appeared in Matador<\/em> \u2013 a film that explores the fine line between passion and death. Later, in the 2009 film Broken Embraces<\/em>, Lluis Homar\u2019s character lives in an apartment on Calle Segovia just below the viaduct while in the comedy I\u2019m So Excited<\/em> (titled quite differently in Spanish as Los Amantes Pasajeros<\/em>) the towering bridge is one of the film\u2019s few exterior locations, when actors Blanca Su\u00e1rez, Carmen Machi, and Paz Vega are brought together by a series of unfortunate coincidences<\/strong>. The bridge itself is worth a visit, not only does it serve as a vital connection between the old quarter and the Royal Palace<\/strong><\/a> but it provides sweeping views<\/strong> of the city\u2019s south.<\/p>\n

\"Conde

Conde Duque, Law of Desire<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

3.\u00a0<\/strong>Conde Duque Cultural Centre (Law of Desire<\/em>, 1987)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Calle Conde Duque 9-11<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Carmen Maura\u2019s character<\/strong> in Law of Desire<\/em> walks down a deserted street<\/strong> on one of Madrid\u2019s characteristically steamy summer nights, she calls out a city street cleaner \u201cRi\u00e9gueme! No te cortes!\u201d<\/em> (Water\u00a0me down! Don\u2019t be shy!<\/em>). As he hoses her down with a steady torrent of water<\/strong>, her character is ecstatic and transformed; Madrile\u00f1os familiar with the nocturnal heat of their city\u2019s pavement would surely emphathise with her joy. The scene was filmed on the Calle Conde Duque and shows the street lined with construction work and scaffolding; hinting at the neighbourhood\u2019s future transformation. Today, Calle Conde Duque and the surrounding neighbourhod is one of Madrid\u2019s most polished districts<\/strong><\/a>, home to some of the best caf\u00e9\u2019s, eateries, and retail outings. The ornate fa\u00e7ade where Maura stops to get a drenching is actually the old military barracks of the royal guard and, following a lengthy restoration, is now the Conde Duque Cultural Centre<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Villa

Villa Rosa, High Heels<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

4.\u00a0<\/strong>Villa Rosa<\/a> (High Heels<\/em>, 1991)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Plaza de Santa Ana, 15<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>In High Heels (Tacones Lejanos<\/em>) the drag queen Letal<\/em> <\/strong>(Lethal) played by Miguel Bos\u00e9<\/strong> performs at this flamboyantly decorated venue which, in real life, is the famous flamenco tablao<\/em> <\/strong>Villa Rosa. The elaborately illustrated tiles<\/strong> that cover the fa\u00e7ade are suitably matched by the traditionally-styled interiors and the exuberance of the performers that bring the stage to life each day. After taking in a show, step over to a one of the many terraces in the adjoining Plaza Santa Ana<\/a> for a Tinto de Verano <\/em>(Spanish summer wine) and watch the inevitable daily drama play out in the square<\/strong> before you.<\/p>\n

\"Plaza

Plaza de La Paja, The Flower of My Secret<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

5. P<\/strong>laza de La Paja (The Flower of My Secret<\/em>, 1995)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plaza de La Paja<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Tucked away in the colourful neighbourhood of La Latina<\/strong><\/a>, the Plaza de La Paja is one of the city\u2019s most scenic squares. You won\u2019t find sweeping vistas of the city skyline; instead this plaza is populated with terrace seating where famished locals gather to feast on tapas<\/strong>, raciones<\/em>, and the much-loved menu del d\u00eda <\/em>(lunchtime set menu). Filled with trees and surrounded by historical buildings<\/strong> the plaza served as the suitably emblematic address of Marisa Paredes<\/strong> in The Flower of My Secret<\/em>. The film also includes a memorable dance scene in one of Madrid\u2019s most recognised squares \u2013 the Plaza Mayor<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 but unlike its depiction in the film, you\u2019re unlikely to find this popular location empty \u2013 ever.<\/p>\n

\"Taberna

Taberna \u00c1ngel Sierra, The Flower of My Secret<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

6.\u00a0<\/strong>Taberna \u00c1ngel Sierra<\/a> (The Flower of My Secret<\/em>, 1995)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calle de Gravina 11<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Madrid\u2019s oldest and beloved bars<\/strong> can be spotted in The Flower of My Secret<\/em> when Marisa Paredes\u2019 character Leo Mac\u00edas and her friend Betty (played by Carme El\u00edas) meet for dinner. In the twenty-one years since that film was released, the bar doesn\u2019t seem to have changed one bit \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly how the wise faces of its smartly-dressed waiters seem to like it. The best way to experience this taberna<\/em> (and perhaps Madrid) is by ordering a ca\u00f1a<\/em><\/strong> (little beer), a vermut<\/em><\/strong> (vermouth) and some banderillas<\/em><\/strong> (skewered tapas) and watch the action in the Plaza de Chueca<\/strong><\/a> before you. The surrounding district has come a long way since Antonio Banderas\u2019 character in Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down<\/em> (1989) surveyed the sleaze and squalor that dirtied Chueca\u2019s streets in the 1980s and 90s; today it is one of Madrid\u2019s most popular neighbournhoods<\/strong> and is the sentimental home to the city\u2019s LGBT community<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Cine

Cine Dor\u00e9, Talk to Her<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

7.\u00a0<\/strong>Cine Dor\u00e9 (Talk to Her, 2002<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calle de Santa Isabel 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of his most well-known films includes a pivotal scene in Madrid\u2019s Cine Dor\u00e9<\/strong><\/a>, a beautiful cinema just a short pace from the Metro Anton Mart\u00edn it is also conveniently sat alongside the buzzing Anton Mart\u00edn market<\/strong><\/a>. In the film, Benigno (Javier C\u00e1mara) heads to the cinema to watch an old silent Spanish film Amante Menguante<\/strong>, <\/em>which later becomes a crucial element to the unfolding story. Since 1982, this (nearly) century-old cinema has been home to the Spanish Filmotheque<\/strong> and continues to delight audiences with a well-curated selection of Spanish and international films in original version<\/strong>. The beautifully restored interior of bright blue and rich red gives this film-house an extra dose of movie magic and makes it feel like a Spanish version of Cinema Paradiso<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Museo

Museo Chicote, Broken Embraces<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

8.\u00a0<\/strong>Museo Chicote<\/a> (Broken Embraces<\/em>, 2009)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gran V\u00eda 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

This legendary cocktail bar<\/strong> has long been a magnet for movie stars and matadors, from Ava Gardner<\/strong> to Luis Miguel Domingu\u00edn<\/strong>. A quick glance up at the wall reveals a collection of fading photographs that immortalise decades of esteemed revelers. Almod\u00f3var chose the bar as the setting for one of the main scenes<\/strong> in Broken Embraces<\/em> where Blanca Portillo\u2019s character becomes inebriated with Gin & Tonics<\/strong> (one of Madrid\u2019s most popular tipples) and finally reveals a secret crucial to the film\u2019s plot. Directly behind Museo Chicote (although only accessible from another street; Calle Reina 16) you\u2019ll find the equally iconic Bar Cock<\/strong><\/a> which is the bar where actor Tamar Navas works as a DJ in the same film.<\/p>\n

\"Crown

Crown of Thorns, The Skin I Live In<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

9.\u00a0<\/strong>Crown of Thorns (The Skin I Live In<\/em>, 2011)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calle Pintor El Greco 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Madrid\u2019s lesser known structures is also one of its most breathtaking. Officially it is the headquarters of the Spanish Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute<\/strong> but its spiked and circular form earned it the colloquial title of the Crown of Thorns<\/strong><\/a>. You\u2019ll have to make the short journey to the Ciudad Universitaria district<\/strong> to get a look (not far from the central district of Moncloa) but the architectural wonder, designed by the celebrated duo Fernando Higueras and Antonio Mir\u00f3<\/strong>, is worth the effort. Almod\u00f3var used the eclectic building for a scene in the deliciously creepy The Skin I Live In<\/em>, where Antonio Banderas\u2019 character gives a conference<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Julieta\"

Julieta<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

10.\u00a0 <\/strong>Las Salesas District<\/a> (Julieta<\/em>, 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calle Fernando VI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almod\u00f3var\u2019s latest drama Julieta<\/em> develops across the Iberian Peninsula from the Galician countryside to the Pyrenees mountains, but the director didn\u2019t forget Madrid; choosing the characterful streets<\/strong> of the Las Salesas district to represent the city in the 1980s<\/strong>. The area, which has undergone an impressive transformation in recent years<\/strong>, was abuzz last August when the director and his team moved in to film a few scenes with Emma Su\u00e1rez on Calle Fernando VI. While a cranky bar owner was reportedly unimpressed, many locals flocked to get a glimpse of the cinematic action and will no doubt be rushing to the box office to see their neighbourhood up on the big screen this April.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pedro Almod\u00f3var is set to release his latest film Julieta and once again the Spanish capital will be part of the characteristically eclectic backdrop. For decades, the Manchego maestro has weaved his cinematic stories through the streets of Madrid; capturing the city\u2019s ever-changing tapestry of stark contrasts, colourful personalities and its gentle metamorphosis into a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":1454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[83,128,218,26,140,219,217],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1442"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1442"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1457,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1442\/revisions\/1457"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.esmadrid.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}