Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos Rotos) is an awesome Pedro Almodovar romantic thriller featuring the great Penelope Cruz. I saw the movie when it came out in the summer of 2009, and I recall appreciating the suspenseful plot and superb acting. The first scene presents a blind screenwriter named Harry Caine who uses the help of a young and attractive passerby to cross the street. He then humorously and seductively uses his disability to sleep with the young woman. This scene clearly left an impression because it’s one that quickly springs to mind (haha). The movie quick transitions away from humor, however, and develops into a much more intricate story of love, loss, illness, and betrayal. The main story line is recounted in a Harry Caine flashback, who recalls the memories of a young secretary (Lena / Penelope Cruz). He explains how she ends up marrying her millionaire boss, Martel, when he offers to pay her dying father’s medical bills. Their marriage is highly controlling but Lena manages to loosen the chains a little to win a main role in Harry Caine-directed (known then as Mateo Blanco) movie. Lena and Mateo Blanco begin an affair on set which complicates Lena’s relationship with Martel. I don’t want to spoil the plot by describing anything further. The film is really well-made and carries on to explore themes of love, jealousy, and tragedy. In celebration of this wonderful production, I’d like to present a full course Spanish meal you can share with friends and family:
Spanish Cod Soup (via What Did You Eat)
You can make this delicious and thick soup with cod fish, chickpeas, tomatoes, spinach, and olive oil. The full recipe is here.
Chickpea and Chorizo Salad (via The Pedaling Chef)
This tasty and filling salad contains onion, garlic, chorizo (pork sausages), red peppers, and chickpeas. It really could be a whole meal by itself! Eat each component slowly as you know Spaniards like to eat a lot but at a slow pace.
Paella (via I Am A Food Blog)
This popular and delicious dish originated in Valencia but is now known as a Spanish national dish to non-Spaniards. The seafood paella recipe includes shrimp, garlic, onion, mussels, lobster, cuttlefish, seafood broth, and rice.
What’s your favorite scene from Broken Embraces?
Featured photo via fashioninmotion
