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New York Film Festival |
The New York Film Festival paid tribute to Spanish film director Pedro
Almodovar, whose latest movie, "Bad Education," is the centerpiece of the
42nd annual event.
The "Viva Pedro!" tribute on Thursday night
featured clips from Almodovar's 20-year of career making films of passion,
sexual freedom and fatalistic
obsession. The director also
joined Richard Pena, program director of the Film Society of Lincoln
Center, which organizes the festival, for an onstage conversation.
"The face of pain and the face of joy is often the same face,"
Almodovar said to the Lincoln Center crowd. "If today I seem to have a sad
face, that's not it at all."
Several actors from Almodovar's movies paid homage to the filmmaker. Gael Garcia
Bernal, the star of "Bad Education," said: "You have transcended and
redefined cinema in this century." He then added with a grin, "which I'm
sure you know. I'm not saying anything new."
The connection between Almodovar and the New York Film Festival is a
long and friendly one. The festival showed Almodovar's "What Have I Done
to Deserve This?" in 1985, and has since often been a platform for the
American release of his movies, from "Women on the Verge of a Nervous
Breakdown" to "All About My Mother."
"It's been a long and close relationship," Pena told The Associated
Press minutes before the tribute. He also said it was an appropriate time
for retrospection: "There's a
certain anthological theme to 'Bad Education' for those who are familiar
with his earlier films. It's not just a high point, but a summing up."
"Bad Education" is a highly personal reflection on Catholic upbringing, centering on the reunion
of two school friends, one a film director, the other an aspiring
screenwriter.
During the presentation, Pena translated the answers of Almodovar, who
understands and can speak English, but feels he can better -- "more
passionately" -- express himself in his native Spanish. Wearing all black,
Almodovar joyfully asked, "Do I look like I'm on TV?"
Almodovar was clearly touched by the honor: "This warmth is something
that I have felt from the beginning with the Lincoln Center Film Festival.
The New York Film Festival is absolutely one of my favorites."
The New York Film Festival opened Oct. 1 and will run through Sunday.
"Bad Education" will be in U.S. theaters on Nov.
19.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-10-11 14:34