Broken Embraces (2009)
82%RT Audience Score: 75%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 46 nominations total
Pedro Almodovar’s fourth film with Penélope Cruz isn’t his finest work, but he brings his signature visual brilliance to this noirish tale, and the cast turns in some first-class performances
Broken Embraces is a movie that will make you feel all the feels. It’s a love story that’s so precious it hurts, but in a good way. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, and Penelope Cruz has never looked more gorgeous. Sure, it’s a bit self-indulgent and self-referential, but that’s part of the charm. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good smorgasbord of international cinema? Overall, Broken Embraces is a must-watch for any cinephile who wants to feel alive, giddy, and in love with movies.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material
Year of Release
2010
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 8m
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Language(s):Spanish, English
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Country of origin:Spain
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 16, 2010
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Broken Embraces, Pedro Almodóvar, Penélope Cruz, Lluís Homar, Blanca Portillo, José Luis Gómez, Tamar Novas, Rubén Ochandiano, Esther García, drama, Spanish, R, sexual content, language, some drug material, $5.0M, Sony Pictures Classics, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, written by Pedro Almodóvar, produced by Esther García, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Andrew Chan, Hank Sartin, Joshua Rothkopf, Christine Champ, Peter Travers, Jason Adams, Jason Best, Richard Propes, Felicia Feaster, Mattie Lucas, Sarah Kerr, film director, blindness, love triangle, mistress, friendship, jealousy, mystery, storytelling, humor, dark, chilling, disturbing, twists, hyper-sexual, highly-stylized, melodrama, regal, elegant, brilliant colors, elicit passions
Worldwide gross: $37,472,736
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $50,939,932
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,317
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,555,063
US/Canada gross: $5,014,305
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,816,379
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,721
US/Canada opening weekend: $107,111
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $145,605
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,796
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $24,468,957
Production budget ranking: 1,260
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,176,534
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,294,441
ROI to date (est.): 35%
ROI ranking: 1,214
Lluís Homar – Mateo Blanco/Harry Caine
Blanca Portillo – Judit García
José Luis Gómez – Ernesto Martel
Tamar Novas – Diego
Rubén Ochandiano – Ray X
Director(s)
Pedro Almodóvar
Writer(s)
Pedro Almodóvar
Producer(s)
Esther García
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 46 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (158) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (129) | Rotten (29)
… Broken Embraces is a well-written story of a love so precious it hurt.
September 11, 2017 | Rating: B+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
Though the film offers nothing new for the eyes, its wordiness ultimately acts as a complement rather than a drawback to Almodóvar’s masterful storytelling.
September 24, 2014
Andrew Chan
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
May 6, 2011 | Rating: A-
Christine Champ
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
February 3, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
I walked out of the theater on air, with that charge you only get from an uncommonly affecting cinematic experience. Alive, giddy, with a love for movies.
July 2, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
Broken Embraces shows Almodóvar at his most self-indulgent and self-referential… [but] the film’s cinematography is bewitching and Cruz has never been more incandescently gorgeous.
November 24, 2020
Jason Best
Movie Talk
In much the same way it is difficult to describe a Hitchcock film without giving away too much of the film, the same is true for Almodovar.
September 4, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Broken Embraces is loaded with the kind of incident that makes other filmmakers seem like a plain chicken dinner next to the all-you-can-eat international smorgasbord of Almodóvar.
January 23, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Charleston City Paper
While its self referencing love of cinema is a feast for any cinephile, I can’t help but feel that the film ultimately just runs out of gas.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Broken Embraces moves us with flashes of real beauty. But somehow, instead of setting up house in our memory it departs quickly and lightly when it is done.
March 13, 2019
Sarah Kerr
The New York Review of Books…
Plot
Broken Embraces follows the story of a film director, Mateo Blanco, and his battle for the affection of his friend’s mistress, Lena, which spirals out of control when his friend recruits his son to spy on him.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast turns in some first-class performances.
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