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A Portrait of Pedro and Penelope

August 26th 2007 01:42
Pedro and Penelope
"Smile for the camera!"


What do Pedro Almodovar, Penelope Cruz and camera have in common? Is it their Spanish blood? Perhaps yes for both Pedro and Penelope. But there's something else that some of you probably don't know yet, and that is their ability to create great movies! I know I pretty much gave the clue away when I mentioned the camera bit, but apparently there are still many who aren't aware of their brilliant collaboration in movies.


Pedro and Penelope filming
They really are looking focused, aren't they?


Born in Calzada de Calatrava, a province of Castile-La Mancha in 1949, Almodovar was raised in a somewhat religious household where his parents wished he would grow up to become a priest. As a young boy, he was given a part time job by his mother as a teacher of literacy in the village and also a letter reader and transcriber for the neighbors. He’d later pursue his deepest fascination for movies by moving to Madrid in 1967. The new energy and spirit of the city gave him even more of the freedom and passion to keep on pursuing his admiration for experimental cinema.


Penelope Cruz in 'All About My Mother'
The cast of 'All About My Mother'


Today, sixteen great movies later, Almodovar has become a major figure on the stage of world cinema. His movies, which are all in Spanish, have been greatly enjoyed by international audience. Yes, reading subtitles haven’t really been a problem when you get mouth-watering colours for your eyes at the same time! His movies are well known for their exceptionally distinctive storylines and most importantly because of their visually strong colours. Bright red are often the most apparent but let’s not rule out his greens, blues and yellows which are also highlighting all his movies!

Penelope Cruz red carpet
Pulling off a Flamenco look in Chanel Haute Couture


Penelope Cruz herself has built a career all of her own as an internationally-known Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated actress. Born in San Sebastián de los Reyes of Spain, she was already a chameleon as a child for loving to re-enact TV ads in front of her family and relatives. One of her earliest achievements is when she was 15 years old. She received three years of Spanish Ballet training with Ángela Garrido after winning a talent agency audition participated by 300 other girls!

Penelope Cruz red carpet
Looking like a true goddess in Atelier Versace


Speaking of how she’s doing now, her evolving style on the red carpet is something that can’t be missed, or at least by me. She used to be known as an exotic actress with a sexy accent, and can often be seen wearing bold-coloured clothing. But she has now gone down a different direction, and I’d say that she has truly gone pastel! I really like this new look on her though, as it makes her look more gracious and classy. She often wears long pastel-coloured dresses that make her look more like a floating Venus. But oh well, let’s not get too carried away, shall we?

Penelope Cruz red carpet
Loving the beautiful pattern off this Oscar de la Renta dress


Penelope has worked with Pedro in three movies so far, Live Flesh (1997), All About My Mother (1999) and last year’s Volver. I’ve seen both 'All About My Mother' and 'Volver'. I just haven’t got the chance to hunt for 'Live Flesh', as I’m sure it would be pretty challenging to find here.

Penelope Cruz and John Galliano
With my favourite fashion designer, John Galliano


In ‘All About My Mother’, she plays a young nun named Rosa Sanz who specialises in helping reformed hookers and junkies. But hers is not the only controversial character in the movie that’s filled with remarkably talented cast. Her ‘Volver’ character, Raimunda, got her nominated for an Oscar and actually did win her a Best Actress Award from the Cannes Film Festival, a triumph which is in fact shared by the other five main actresses!

Pedro and Penelope filming
On the colourful set of 'Volver'


So.. Six actresses receiving Cannes Film Festival trophy in one movie? It really is not a surprise coming from a creation by Pedro Almodovar.



Images taken from Style.com and Yahoo! Movies
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VivienneWestwood.com
From Viviennewestwood.com


After visiting the Victoria and Albert exhibition which travelled to the National Gallery in Canberra a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed with Vivienne Westwood. It’s not just that she’s sixty and has a beautiful thirty-year-old Italian lover, although that does impress me, and it’s not just that she’s been an inspiration for generations of fashionistas, mostly it’s because for Westwood, fashion is thought


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Black is invariably the new black

June 5th 2007 23:49
Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy
From photobucket.com


Although Coco Chanel was really the first to bring the black dress into the everyday wardrobe of the modern woman, its place was indeed cemented with Hepburn’s appearance in Givenchy during Breakfast at Tiffany (see Sisi's post) last year for more on that dress


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