Pedro Almodóvar’s Next Film ‘Amarga Navidad’ Unveiled by Movistar Plus+

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The renowned Spanish streaming and production company, Movistar Plus+, has revealed that the upcoming film from esteemed director Pedro Almodóvar is titled “Bittersweet Christmas.” This movie will have its theatrical debut in Spain in 2026 through Warner Bros. Pictures Spain, followed by exclusive streaming on Movistar Plus+’s platform.

The well-known Spanish director, Pedro Almodóvar, along with his brother Agustín, is currently working on their latest project for their production company, El Deseo. This filming takes place in both Madrid and Lanzarote, and it’s being done in partnership with Movistar Plus+.

The film, “Amarga Navidad,” features an outstanding ensemble cast predominantly made up of women. Notable actresses such as Bárbara Lennie (“Petra”), who was nominated for the European Film Award, Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory”), Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (“Parallel Mothers”), Victoria Luengo (“The Room Next Door”), Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”), Milena Smit (“Parallel Mothers”) and Quim Gutiérrez (“Darkbluealmostblack”) make up this impressive cast.

Or,

In the movie “Amarga Navidad,” a talented group of actors take center stage, with many women leading the way. Among them are Bárbara Lennie (“Petra”), who was nominated for a European Film Award, Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory”), Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (“Parallel Mothers”), Victoria Luengo (“The Room Next Door”), Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”), Milena Smit (“Parallel Mothers”) and Quim Gutiérrez (“Darkbluealmostblack”).

Or,

The cast of “Amarga Navidad” is filled with notable actors, with a particular emphasis on women’s roles. Some of the talented actresses featured in this film include Bárbara Lennie (“Petra”), who was nominated for a European Film Award, Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory”), Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (“Parallel Mothers”), Victoria Luengo (“The Room Next Door”), Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”), Milena Smit (“Parallel Mothers”) and Quim Gutiérrez (“Darkbluealmostblack”).

The film synopsis, translated from Spanish, goes like this: “Elsa, an advertising executive, loses her mother over a prolonged holiday weekend in December. To escape, she immerses herself in work, unaware that she’s avoiding the time needed to mourn. However, a panic attack compels her to take a break. In this critical moment, Bonifacio serves as her support system. Elsa then plans a trip to Lanzarote with her friend Patricia, who also seeks respite from Madrid. Meanwhile, Bonifacio remains in the city.

The narrative of these three individuals, along with a few more, mirrors the life journey of screenwriter and filmmaker Raúl Durán, merging fact and imagination. ‘Amarga Navidad’ delves into the idea that life and fiction are often indistinguishable, even painfully so.

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This tale of three characters, along with others, mirrors the experiences of screenwriter and director Raúl Durán, blending fact and fantasy. ‘Amarga Navidad’ examines how life and storytelling can become one, sometimes in a painful way.

After the resignation of Domingo Corral as director of fiction and entertainment at Movistar Plus+, the company has announced it’s embarking on a fresh chapter with renewed dedication to Spanish cinema. A fantastic approach could be by producing a new movie from the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar.

The platform is further cementing its relationship with prominent national filmmakers like Almodóvar, having built on their past achievement together in “La habitación de al lado.” This movie bagged the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival and claimed three Goya Awards. Recently, Oliver Laxe’s “Sirat” for Movistar Plus+ garnered the Jury Prize at Cannes.

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2025-06-10 12:49