The death of Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez) sets off a chain of events that forces one man to come to terms with his past. Before he went blind, Harry Caine was Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar), a film director who often worked with Ernesto. Ten years ago, Ernesto and Mateo’s friendship became a battle for Lena (Penélope Cruz), Ernesto’s mistress and Mateo’s secret object of affection. When the former recruits his son (Rubén Ochandiano) to spy on the latter, things quickly spiral out of control.
The death of Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez) sets off a chain of events that forces one man to come to terms with his past. Before he went blind, Harry Caine was Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar), a film director who often worked with Ernesto. Ten years ago, Ernesto and Mateo’s friendship became a battle for Lena (Penélope Cruz), Ernesto’s mistress and Mateo’s secret object of affection. When the former recruits his son (Rubén Ochandiano) to spy on the latter, things quickly spiral out of control.
"A vibrant, mature love letter to the making of movies, the meaning of movies, and the dark-eyed muse Penélope Cruz…"
Entertainment Weekly
"It's both ridiculous and ridiculously romantic, which is an apt description of a work shaped like a heart and structured like a pretzel."
Boston Globe
"Equal parts comic melodrama and film noir, and twice as fun as it ought to be, Broken Embraces boasts more bifurcations than any two Hitchcock classics."
Village Voice