Pedro Almodovar's uses of Color and Costuming in Film

Pedro Almodovar is a filmmaker known for his use of vibrant colors and unique fashion

choices in his films. From the bright reds and pinks in "Women on the Verge of a Nervous

Breakdown" to the neon greens and blues in "Talk to Her," Almodovar uses clothing and color to

create a visual language that enhances the storytelling in his films. In this essay, we will explore

the importance of clothes and color in Pedro Almodovar's films, and how these elements

contribute to the themes, characters, and overall aesthetic of his work. We will analyze the

symbolism of specific colors, the use of clothing to establish character traits, and the ways in

which Almodovar's unique use of these elements sets his films apart from other filmmakers. By

examining the role of clothes and color in Almodovar's films, we can gain a deeper

understanding of his distinctive style and the ways in which he uses visual language to enhance

the emotional impact of his work.

“Colour idealizes an object and gives it an artificial value I like. I believe this artifice in

the objects, the walls, the décor, the clothes...that reveals and singles out the characters in my

films. It also completely isolates what interests me most in my films: the story itself and the

characters’ emotions.” a quote from Pedro Almodovar, which conveys his feelings on the use of

color in his films. Color theory in the general sense as regards to visual art is the body of

practical guidance for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination. Color

terminology based on the color wheel and its geometry separates colors into primary color,

secondary color, and tertiary color. Color is an important element in film, as it can convey

emotions and establish tone. Filmmakers use color palettes to establish mood and tone

throughout their films. For example, a film with a predominantly blue color palette may create a

sense of sadness or melancholy, while a film with a predominantly red color palette may create a

sense of passion or danger. Filmmakers can also use color to create contrast or to draw attention

to certain elements in a scene. For example, a filmmaker may use a pop of red in an otherwise

neutral scene to draw attention to a particular object or character.. Color creates psychological

reactions for the viewer, draws attention to visual details, creates an overarching tone, represents

characters, and illustrates story arcs. Pedro Almodovar is famously known for using the color red

in his films.The color red is commonly associated with excitement, passion, desire, energy,

action, and strength. Red is also a color that attracts the most attention so it's very understandable

to want to have that be a major element of your film.

In many of Almodovar’s films, color is used as a visual medium that “revives” the

psyche. In return creating an autonomous structure of the illiberal. He is known internationally

for his ‘cinema of women’, creating memorable, vivacious, emotional and funny

cross-generational female characters, who are both strikingly dressed and observed with a strong

sense of empathy. The revelations of human emotions are the core of Almodovar's development

of a storyline. We see Almodovar's favorite color,red, as well as countless other bold and vivid

colors like;primary colors blue and yellow, green,orange. In “Woman on the Verge” uses the hot

color palette dominated by reds and pinks to accentuate the fast paced events from the opening

frames to the closing frames. Almodovar pays homage in “Woman on the Verge” to the visual

strategy of Frank Tashlin, using bright lights and cartoonish hues.

Not only does color play a major role in this film, so does clothing. Clothing can help

establish character traits and give insight into a character's personality. For example, a character

who is dressed in all black may be seen as mysterious, serious, or even dangerous. In contrast, a

character dressed in bright colors may be seen as happy, cheerful, or carefree. Clothing can also

be used to establish a character's profession or social status. For example, a character wearing a

suit and tie may be seen as professional, while a character wearing a uniform may be seen as a

member of a particular profession or organization.One of the most obvious uses of the color red

in the film is in the costumes and sets. Many of the characters wear red clothing or are

surrounded by red elements in their surroundings. For example, Pepa's apartment is decorated

with bright red walls and furniture, and her answering machine is bright red. The use of red in

the sets and costumes creates a sense of heightened emotion and passion, and it serves to

highlight the intense emotional states of the characters.In addition to its use in the sets and

costumes, the color red is also used symbolically in the film to represent passion and desire. The

character of Ivan, for example, wears a red shirt and tie, which suggests his sexual appetite and

his attraction to women. The use of red in this context highlights the erotic tension between the

characters and underscores the theme of sexual desire and passion.Another way that the color red

is used in the film is to symbolize danger and warning. In one scene, the character of Marisa is

shown walking down a red-lit hallway, which creates a sense of danger and foreboding. The use

of red in this context suggests that Marisa is about to do something dangerous or make a mistake,

and it creates a sense of tension and suspense.Finally, the color red is used in the film to convey a

sense of power and control. In one scene, Lucia is shown wearing a bright red blazer, which

emphasizes her position of authority as a lawyer. The use of red in this context underscores the

idea that power and control are often associated with passion and intensity.

In class we had an insightful discussion about films that are in black and white versus

films that are in color. There were many students who preferred color movies over black and

white, which is unsurprising given the fact that most of today's generation grew up watching

movies in color and with advanced technology. Someone in the class made a great point of black

and white films being more capable of depicting human emotions since we don't have to rely on

following the colors and emotions that come with said colors while watching films. I think this is

a very decent argument although I do believe having color in films captures the human

experience even more. I once had a film teacher tell me that film is less about what the actors are

saying and more about the actions,expressions,colors, and emotions that the visuals can display.

Which is why you can portray a lot of emotions in film even without people actually acting.

Color is used to set the tone of the scene before any of the actors even utter a word. In

conclusion, the color red is used in Pedro Almodovar's film "Women on the Verge of a Nervous

Breakdown" in a variety of ways to convey different emotions and ideas. From its use in the sets

and costumes to its symbolic use to represent passion, desire, danger, and power, the color red is

a powerful tool that helps to underscore the themes and ideas of the film.

Mireille KaradanaianMireille Karadanaian is an entertainment journalist. “The

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Insider.” Hollywood Insider - News Entertainment & Culture, 15 Feb. 2022,

www.hollywoodinsider.com/colors-and-themes-in-film-and-tv/.

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