ERIC Number: EJ1102652
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-2133
EISSN: N/A
Silence, Metaperformance, and Communication in Pedro Almodóvar's "Hable con ella"
Fellie, Maria C.
Hispania, v99 n2 p223-233 Jun 2016
Many scenes in Pedro Almodóvar's "Hable con ella" (2002) include shots of metaperformances such as silent films, dances, television shows, concerts, and bullfights. Spectators often observe passive characters who are in turn observing. By presenting these performances within cinematic performance, Almodóvar highlights our role as viewers of his film and maintains our attention to the questions raised through his characters' actions. The director draws out the periods of time in which spectators watch other motionless spectators or the performance that they are watching. The same lengthening of time occurs when Benigno and Marco interact with the two comatose women, Alicia and Lydia. This study re-examines the role of metaperformances and other cinematic elements, analyzing their significance with regards to communication, silence, and metafictional breaks in "Hable con ella." Ultimately, the article demonstrates that slowness and pauses (a metaphorical coma) break narrative continuity and the spectators' trance, thus encouraging us to consciously reflect on the social and moral conflicts at play within Almodóvar's film.
Descriptors: Spanish, Films, Role, Conflict, Social Values, Moral Values, Dance, Music, Television, Programming (Broadcast)
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Inc. 900 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390. Tel: 248-960-2180; Fax: 248-960-9570; e-mail: AATSPoffice@aatsp.org; Web site: http://www.aatsp.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A