Pain and Glory
An aging Spanish filmmaker’s physical pain and creative paralysis open a vivid passage into memory, desire, family, and the possibility of renewal.
Overview
A poignant exploration of life and art through the lens of a fading filmmaker's memories.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- wistful
- quiet evening
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Pedro Almodóvar’s autobiographical artistry, Antonio Banderas’s deeply expressive performance, and the film’s quiet emotional power.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Salvador Mallo’s memories, relationships, bodily pain, and creative history closely echo the life and artistic concerns of Pedro Almodóvar.
Salvador’s career and memories converge as he reflects on filmmaking, lost relationships, and the experiences that shaped his art.
Chronic pain, mobility problems, and painkiller use are directly tied to Salvador’s inability to work and his broader crisis of purpose.
The film uses vivid, meticulously designed Madrid interiors and saturated color to frame Salvador’s memories and present-day solitude.
Films like Pain and Glory, and why
8½
shares a reflective portrait of an aging artist, autobiographical self-examination, and restrained emotional drama
The Fabelmans
shares a filmmaker protagonist, cinema-on-cinema themes, memory, creative crisis, and melancholic self-reflection
The Souvenir
shares intimate queer drama, past relationships resurfacing, emotional reconciliation, and wistful atmosphere
The Dead
shares a late-career artist confronting memory, regret, bodily decline, and the need for creative expression
Movie Details
- Director
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Release Date
- 2019-03-22
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (1955)
Cast
- Antonio Banderas
- Asier Etxeandia
- Leonardo Sbaraglia
- Nora Navas
- Julieta Serrano
- Penélope Cruz
- César Vicente
- Asier Flores
- Cecilia Roth
- Susi Sánchez
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pain and Glory about?
- An aging Spanish filmmaker’s physical pain and creative paralysis open a vivid passage into memory, desire, family, and the possibility of renewal.
- What is Pain and Glory like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pain and Glory as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Pain and Glory violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Pain and Glory.
- What did critics think of Pain and Glory?
- Critics broadly praised Pedro Almodóvar’s autobiographical artistry, Antonio Banderas’s deeply expressive performance, and the film’s quiet emotional power.
- Which films are like Pain and Glory?
- Films with a similar feel include 8½, The Fabelmans, The Souvenir, and The Dead.
- How long is Pain and Glory?
- Pain and Glory runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pain and Glory?
- In United States, Pain and Glory is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
