Almodóvar Collection Blu Ray – Cristina S. Pascual, Carmen Maura 

Collection of six films written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. ‘Dark Habits’ (1983) stars Cristina S. Pascual as Yolanda, a nightclub singer who witnesses her boyfriend die from an overdose. With the police out to question her, she decides to take refuge with a strange band of nuns in a convent in Madrid. In ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’ (1984), embattled housewife Gloria (Carmen Maura) struggles to cope with her dysfunctional family and indifferent husband. ‘Law of Desire’ (1987) stars Antonio Banderas as Antonio Benítez, the obsessive fan of gay director Pablo Quintero (Eusebio Poncela) who accidently kills the director’s new love interest in a jealous rage. In ‘Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ (1988), distraught Pepa (Maura) considers suicide after her long-time lover leaves her without warning. ‘Kika’ (1993) follows a young make-up artist from Madrid as she starts a relationship with a philandering American writer. Finally, in ‘The Flower of My Secret’ (1995), a woman who lives a double life finds that being a successful romantic novelist does not necessarily bring happiness. Frustrated with her professional life and her disintegrating relationship with her husband, she is forced to re-evaluate her future after surviving an overdose.

The most celebrated Spanish filmmaker since Luis Buñuel, director, screenwriter, composer and actor Pedro Almodóvar was born in Calzada de Calatrava, La Mancha, in 1951. Aged sixteen, Almodóvar moved to Madrid and purchased his first movie camera and became familiar with what would later drive his formative films: the dramas and miseries of the Spanish middle classes at the beginning of the age of consumerism. The films in this box set include, Dark Habits (1983), What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984) Law of Desire (1987) and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988). As well as sealing the collaborations that Almodóvar had made with the actors he met from his days in an independent theatre group (including Carmen Maura), the films from this period also display his acute visual style and recurring thematic obsessions including sexual violence, female masochism and addiction. It was this epoch that also bought the first of numerous Academy Award® nominations for Women on the Verge. Kika (1993) and The Flower of My Secret (1995) continue the director’s fascination with strong female protagonists, transgression, pain and regeneration. This stunning collection is a must-have for all fans of Almodóvar – each film has been beautifully restored – showcasing the work of one of the world’s most celebrated filmmaker. EXTRAS: DISC 1 DARK HABITS Around Dark Habits Introduction by José Arroyo DISC 2 WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? Around What Have I Done to Deserve This? Introduction by José Arroyo Trailer DISC 3 LAW OF DESIRE Around Law of Desire Introduction by José Arroyo Trailer DISC 4 WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN Around Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Introduction by José Arroyo DISC 5 KIKA Around Kika Introduction by José Arroyo Pedro Almodóvar interview Cast and crew interviews The Characters The Music Trailer DISC 6 THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET Around The Flower of My Secret Introduction by José Arroyo Pedro Almodóvar interview Cast and crew interviews Trailer