High Heels [Tacones lejanos] **** (1991, Victoria Abril, Marisa Paredes, Miguel Bosé) – Classic Movie Review 887

Pedro Almodóvar  comes up the weirdest and most contrived of plots for his 1991 movie High Heels (Tacones Lejanos) starring Victoria Abril and Marisa Paredes.

‘I hated you sometimes, but even on those times I never stop loving you.’ –  Rebecca Giner (Victoria Abril).

In his 1991 movie High Heels (Tacones Lejanos) writer-director Pedro Almodóvar  comes up the weirdest and most contrived of plots, in which a famous singer called Becky del Páramo (played by Marisa Paredes) returns after a gap of 15 years to discover that her daughter has married one of her own old boyfriends.

Almodôvar casts Victoria Abril as Rebecca Giner, the woman who is so in much the shadow of her mother that, not only has she wed the mother’s ex-lover but also she even falls for, and has graphic sex with, a district attorney drag queen who impersonates her mother at a gay bar. Nevertheless, the two women try to mend their broken mother/ daughter relationship and deal with their common lover. But the setup of the story has melodramatic consequences, with a mystery plot kicking in.

Played as one of the 1950s-style glossy melodramas that so appeal to Almodôvar, it is certainly smartly and stylishly done. But it is a little light in the laughs, irony and wit departments, and can get a little tiresome spread out over 112 minutes. It doesn’t even seem very shocking or subversive, as Almodôvar seems to have intended, just a little bit dull some of the time.

Still, it is propelled by the extremely vivacious and appealing performances from the two remarkable Spanish actresses, relishing unusually fulfilling star parts for women, and for these the film is recommended. It is also appealing for its glossy Eastmancolor cinematography by Alfredo F Mayo and its catchy soundtrack, with the highlights in two incredible songs, ‘Un ano de amor’ and ‘Piensa en mi’.

The literal translation of the Spanish title is Distant Heels, the sound of which Becky and Rebecca refer to when reminiscing about their childhoods. In real life, there is only 12 years age difference between the two Madrid-born stars.

The cast

The cast are Victoria Abril as Rebeca, Marisa Paredes as Becky del Páramo, Miguel Bosé as Judge Eduardo Dominguez/ Letal/ Hugo, Rocío Muñoz as young Rebeca, Luz Casal as Becky’s singing voice, Féodor Atkine as Rebeca’s husband Manuel, Miriam Díaz Aroca as Isabel, Anna Lizaran as Margarita, Bibiana Fernández as Chon, Cristina Marcos as Paula, Pedro Diez del Corral as Rebeca’s stepfather Alberto, Mayrata O’Wisiedo as judge’s mother, Nacho Martínez Rebeca’s father as Juan, and Javier Bardem as floor manager at the TV station.

Marisa Paredes.

Marisa Paredes (3 April 1946 – 17 December 2024)

RIP to the great Spanish actress Marisa Paredes, mistress of the art of playing flamboyant divas and icon of Pedro Almodóvar movies.

Spanish actress Marisa Paredes (born María Luisa Paredes Bartolomé on 3 April 1946, died on 17 December 2024) had a long illustrious career in more than 75 films, 80 TV shows and 15 plays.

Pedro Almodóvar helped her to achieve her international fame, starring in many of his films: Dark Habits (1983), High Heels (1991), The Flower of My Secret (1995), All About My Mother (1999) and The Skin I Live In (2011).

In the 1970s, she lived with film-maker Antonio Isasi, whom with she had a daughter, actress María Isasi.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 887

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Marisa Paredes.

Victoria Abril.

Pedro Almodôvar.