The Flower of My Secret

Name: The Flower of My Secret
Genre: Drama
Released: March 8, 1996
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Juan Echanove, Marisa Paredes

1996

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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The Flower Of My Secret

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: March 8, 1996 | R

Starring: Juan Echanove, Marisa Paredes

Summary: Leo (Paredes), a writer of romance novels under the name Amanda Gris, is unable to write a happy ending for her latest novel after realizing her marriage to Paco (Arias) is ending. She finds a job as a book reviewer witht he help of her best friend Betty (Elias) and meets Angel (Echanove), an Amanda Gris fan who persuades her to review herLeo (Paredes), a writer of romance novels under the name Amanda Gris, is unable to write a happy ending for her latest novel after realizing her marriage to Paco (Arias) is ending. She finds a job as a book reviewer witht he help of her best friend Betty (Elias) and meets Angel (Echanove), an Amanda Gris fan who persuades her to review her own book.… Expand

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

100

David Rooney

Far from abandoning his trademark humor, however, the writer-director skillfully enlists it in the service of an emotional story, charting the heroine's journey from loss and torment to rediscovered strength and hope. Propelled by stellar performances and a script that resonates with intelligence, subtlety and surprises, this is by far Almodovar's best film in years. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

The movie's metaphorical dimensions rarely interfere with the concrete, quirky pleasures of its story. The Flower of My Secret is Mr. Almodovar's most entertaining work since his phenomenal "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." [15 Mar 1996]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Pedro Almodovar's 1995 comic melodrama seems in many ways his most mature work, in theme as well as execution.... Almodovar's control over the material and his affection for his characters never falter. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Though The Flower of My Secret is not as crazed as "Women on the Verge," the movie marks the return of Almodóvar's delicious humor and a departure from the nastier streak that this Spanish director has been on recently. Read full review

Barry Walters

The Spanish filmmaker goes back to what he does better than any other living director - post-modernizing the melodrama. Read full review

Caryn James

[Almodovar’s] returns to the mordant but sympathetic comedy of his early, best work. Though the new film is not as antic as "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," it is funny and free of the nasty undertone that has made him seem tired and tiresome lately. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The Flower of My Secret is likely to be disappointing to Almodovar's admirers, and inexplicable to anyone else. Read full review

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User Reviews

alejandro970

Feb 25, 2022

Una vez más, Almodóvar a seguimiento a sus temas de cabecera, las mujeres; y a ello hay que sumar la profesión de escribir y los traumas -reales o no- que experimenta el autor. Lo que más se agradece son las actuaciones.

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NickTheCritick

Nov 8, 2021

This is a classic Almodovar Drama, not his best film but still a nice one.
The protagonist is a woman whose life is going wrong on all fronts. She is abandoned by her husband, her friends too and her working life is in disastrous decline. But once again the strength of a lonely and woundedThis is a classic Almodovar Drama, not his best film but still a nice one.
The protagonist is a woman whose life is going wrong on all fronts. She is abandoned by her husband, her friends too and her working life is in disastrous decline. But once again the strength of a lonely and wounded woman can be the starting point for her revival.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This film had the look and feel of a Spanish novella at times but I found the main story quite curious. The cast do well, with Marisa Paredes playing the main character, Leo Macias. I almost admired her for the way she dealt with the situations she faced. There were some amusing moments whenThis film had the look and feel of a Spanish novella at times but I found the main story quite curious. The cast do well, with Marisa Paredes playing the main character, Leo Macias. I almost admired her for the way she dealt with the situations she faced. There were some amusing moments when family relations are a little, fractious shall I say.

I suppose, ulitmately, its about questioning what you see, in terms of how real things that are right in front you may be. There are some instances of witty dialogue, like when Leo argues with her husband , who doesn't have time for marital issues, that he shouldn't forget his marital duties, adding 'You can't leave me to get mouldy in the freezer!'. I also liked her mother, who is quite a character. The family quirks kept me entertained throughout.

I would recommend this film, for the characterisations.… Expand

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28	#28 Best Movie of 1996
78	#78 Most Discussed Movie of 1996