Compared with Almodovar's many works, the film "Tell Her" is obviously different in the focus of the characters, not only the focus of the film is based on the two male protagonists, but also different from other works. Use of marginal characters, sex, drugs, violence, etc. Instead, I try to use a life-like story to discuss a theme about what love is and how to love.
As a film about love, the first thing that can be felt from the film is the emotional absence of the four leading actors in the film. Such absence has become the driving force of the film. And this kind of emotion is not only about the four so-called emotions between lovers, but has become the emotional branches of multiple human nature under the lens of Almodovar. For example, when Delia was on the way home with Mark, she was frightened by snakes and no longer dared to live at home and describe the family relationship in her childhood in her chat, which represented the absence of "home" for Delia. And in Mark and Arisia, it is the absence of the speaking object and the absence of the speaking ability, respectively.
Of course, the most noteworthy is Benino, in his unique childhood life, we can divide two directions. In Benino's memory, there is no visual image of the appearance of the mother, and under Benino's many years of caring for her mother, the director transplanted the characters in the camera directly from the mother to Arisia. It can be seen that for Benino, the existence of Arisia is not only a relationship, but also a family. In addition, in Marco and Benino, the transmission of this emotion is still carried out in a relationship that seems to be friendship and love. The two are united in Benigno's invasion of Aricia, respectively, and after Marco has become a mirror image of Benino's by living in Benino's house.
It can be seen that the director's presentation of the various emotional relationships in the film is introducing to us a personalized answer about love, that is, love is an attitude to life. Almodóvar's concept of love is undoubtedly unique. It is a tribute to love that abandons the subjective barriers of society. Just like the two dances at the beginning and end of the film, the female dancer is the essence of love, and we have to do The only thing is to push away those tables and chairs, and push away those entangled hands. It is also under this awareness that the title ''Benino and Aricia'' appears, which is the director's recognition of Benino.
This also became the reason why the director adopted the non-linear narrative of ''beginning-end-process'' in the editing of Marco's story, because for the director, the act of love is far greater than the result. At the same time, it also leads to another topic of the film, about how to love. Also, as the title says, is to talk. In the first half of the film, when Delia was sent to the hospital, there was a scene of panning from the shrine beside the bed to Delia, suggesting that Delia's image at this time, like a god, exists It is up to the viewer to decide. As for the belief in God, the most direct way is to pray and talk. For example, Marco and Benino, the former's attitude is obviously negative, the fear in the lines and the painful tears of giving up, while Benino can be called a devout believer, his actions transcend. language, and even dedicate one's life. Of course, this also successfully completed the transmission of faith, allowing Marco to regain his faith.
What love is, it does not come from the definition of the relationship, but from the awakening of the self. Just like the red elements that appear all the time in the film, the passion of love burns forever in Almodovar's shots. It is to wipe Arisia's towel, Delia's bullfighter suit, Marco's sweater, and Benino's quilt, but they often fail to warm their souls. The only thing is to tell, as Faust said ''In the beginning there was a word'', language is the beginning of all things, but also an attitude of love.
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