Dvd/150: LOS ABRAZOS ROTOS (Broken Embraces) (Pedro Almodóvar, 2009)

Almodóvar's 17th film is a multi-layered tale of love, loss and film-making; it also continues his collaboration with Penelope Cruz as well as featuring cameos by his favourite acresses.

Former film director Mateo was blinded in a car crash 14 years ago and now lives as a writer under the name 'Harry Caine'; he is cared for by his agent Judit and her son Diego.

As Mateo cares for Diego after an accidental drug overdose, he learns that the tycoon Ernesto Martel has died; it allows Mateo to tell Diego of the events in the 1990s that involved him, Judit, Martel and Martel's mistress Lena who became Mateo's secret lover when he cast her in his latest film, events that ended with the crash which blinded him and killed Lena.

Penélope Cruz is radiant and touching as Lena, adored by Mateo, Ernesto - and, ultimately, by Pedro's camera  too.

Shelf or charity shop?  It's a keeper for Almodóvar's rhapsodic film-making, Alberto Iglesias' score with it's Bernard Herrman overtones and the performances of Lluís Homar as Mateo, Blanca Portillo as Judit, José Luis Gómez as Ernestro, and the delightful previous 'Pedronista's Lola Duenas, Angela Molina, Rossy de Palma, Chus Lampreave and Kiti Mánver.