Mike Brown

2/27/17

International Film

Talk To Her

1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Spanish filmmakers took advantage of a recently loosened censorship and began making

dramatic films that dealt with many controversial topics. The film Talk To Her is an

important film in Spanish culture and can give the viewer a clear idea of how film is

handled in Spain. The film aims to be dramatic, and succeeds greatly in that effort. The

way the film plays out gives the viewer a feeling similar to watching a soap opera.

2. Find a related article and summarize the content.

Bradshaw, Peter. "Talk to Her." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 22 Aug. 2002.

Web. 25 Feb. 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/aug/23/1

This review of the film highly praises the direction that has brought it to life. Bradshaw

makes it clear that all of the pieces that make a film directed by Almodovar are all there.

Bradshaw discusses the portrayal of Alicias rape in the film and how it leaves the

viewers feeling torn on how to feel. The character accused is not shown in a bad light

after this event, which is concerning and confusing. Bradshaw ends his review by
praising the film once more and praising the world created by the director.

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.

The article made me think more about the situation with Alicia. Normally, after a

character commits rape, the character would be seen in a very negative light and no

character would feel sympathy for him. Marco seems to stand by his friend Benigno

through the horrible act and continues to support him and keep an eye on Alicia. At the

end of the film, the event isnt even mentioned but Alicia seems to be recovered from

everything.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result

of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

The film was a very powerful one. Talk To Her is jam packed with emotion and drama,

and can be quite in your face at times. The subject matter in the second half of the film

can get extremely dark and tense at times, but that adds to the drama of the film. The

whole film feels like a TV Soap Opera adapted for film, but it works very well for this

film. The characters and their interaction is another piece of the things that hold the

viewer into this film. There is drama with every character and each one has a very

interesting depth to them, which reveals intentions and hopes throughout the film. The

film has a power about it that plants itself on your mind and has kept me thinking of it

since Ive viewed the film.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) (x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I
clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (x) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used
indentation and citation within the text.

4) (x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the
bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another
way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or
originality.

8) (x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the
research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Mike Brown Date: 2/27/17