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 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.
Melding introspective metatextual melodrama with a gripping mystery noir, this meticulously Hitchockian unravelling of long-buried secrets is vintage Almodóvar – who remains one of the most vividly distinct, altogether visionary queer filmmakers in cinema. But this film belongs to his muse – the radiant, quintessential movie star Penélope Cruz – who delivers one of the finest performances of her illustrious career.