Although the film still has strong decorative and emotional elements, Almodovar has gradually stepped out of the bizarre and flashy, and has moved towards a mature narrative, reflecting a calm and humorous attitude towards life and art. The film is one of Almodovar's works that combines sex and violence better. The story of the film presents a continuous cycle, in which the dislocation of sexuality leads to the dislocation of character relationships. Plot progression is often illogical, both logical and unexpected.
The film's narrative begins on Christmas in 1970 and ends on Christmas in 1997, a period that coincides with the end of Franco's rule in Spain and Spain's transition to modern democracy. Director Almodóvar, with his skill at dealing with passionate melodrama, uses an intricate and intertwined story of love and hatred, which brilliantly reflects the great changes in Spanish society and the Spanish people in these 26 years.
