The most celebrated Spanish filmmaker since Luis Bunuel, and arguably one of the most consistently successful directors currently working anywhere, Pedro Almodovar was born in Calzada de Calatrava, La Mancha, in 1951. Aged sixteen Almodovar moved to Madrid, purchased his first movie camera and immersed himself in the newly liberated city and its art-punk movement known as La Movida. Gradually graduating to 16mm, the completion of Almodovar's first feature, Pepi, Luci, Bom (1980) was an hilarious, shocking statement of intent which ably demonstrated what life could be like post-Franco.The films in this box set include the director's outrageous debut - inspired by his time fronting a glam rock punk band - alongside Dark Habits (1983), What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984) and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988). As well as establishing long-standing collaborations with an acting troupe that included Carmen Maura, the films from this period also display his lively visual style, vibrant sense of humour and investment in complex female characters - making this boxset a superb introduction to Almodovar's unique, darkly comic take on the world we live in.
