Julieta

Though it isn't vintage Pedro Almodóvar by any stretch, this sumptuous saga of love, loss, grief and guilt features enough touchstones to the unconventional Spanish director's previous repertoire to please his loyal fans. Adapted from three short stories by Nobel Prize-winning writer Alice Munro, it's another female-centric yarn where a chance encounter with her daughter's best friend sends Madrid lecturer Julieta (Emma Suarez and Adriana Ugarte at different ages) into an emotional tailspin. The reasons for their initially baffling estrangement is explained in meandering flashback with messy twists and often barely credible character motivation which all lead to an unsatisfying conclusion. The episodic structure feels scrappy, too, and the whole thing lacks that signature Almodóvar freshness. However, the film can't be faulted on visual texture and the performances are classy enough to compensate for the plotting. The wallpaper is vibrant as ever, along with supporting player Rossy de Palma, playing a Galician Mrs Danvers in a sinister romance.