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 post-Franco.The films in this box set include Matador (1986), a fable about sex, death and bull-fighting which Almodovar proclaimed the 'weirdest' film of his career, and The Flower of My Secret (1995), which signaled a new maturity and emotional depth which could continue to distinguish films such as All About My Mother. Also included here are Law of Desire (1987) and Kika (1993), the former a classic tale of romantic obsession starring a young Antonio Banderas, the latter an outrageous media satire featuring Victoria Abril in costumes by Jean-Paul Gaultier. All four are quintessential Almodovar.
