Pedro Almodóvar made a huge impact on the Spanish film industry. Since he was a young child, he had a burning desire to be a director, despite his parents wishes for him to go and become a priest. Sure enough, La Movida, Spain’s backlash against the repressive Francoist regime, came along, and gave Almodóvar freedom to express himself, both in his identity and through his films. He made movies about the traditional values of Spain’s conservative past, challenging the dogmas of the Catholic Church and the stigmatisation of sexual relations, he, as a gay man, had had to face. He carved a new pathway for Spain, bringing them to the forefront of pop culture and Hollywood. Here are some of the top Almodóvar films you should see:

1. Talk to her

As a winner of the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, Talk to Her opened Almodóvar’s films up to the rest of the world. In it, two men, both caring for women in comas in a hospital, bond over the difficult situation they find themselves in. The combination of dance and music heightens the emotional impact of this incredibly dark movie. It is, arguably, one of the best displays of Almodóvar’s talent as a filmmaker.

2. Volver

Penélope Cruz plays a young mother living in the heart of Madrid, trying to cope with the everyday turmoil of life. As the film progresses, the past, which the family has been trying to hide, comes to light. Through death, sexual abuse, and violence, they gradually realise how they can come to terms with their history, and find a greater sense of forgiveness and compassion.

3. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

This film is exactly what is says in the title. Carmen Maura, the proclaimed ‘chica de Almdóvar’, is distraught when she realises her husband has left her. Instead of rationally handling the situation, she embarks on a romantic adventure, coming across a range of eccentric characters. With a guest appearance from star Antonio Banderas, this is certainly not one to miss!

4. Dark Habits

Although it is not one of his best known films, Dark Habits gives you a good indication of how Almódovar perceived the Catholic Church. When a cabaret singer goes to a nunnery to seek asylum after overdosing her lover with heroin, she is taken under the wing by the sisters. However, rather than being converted, her ‘dark habits’ influence the nuns, and they too engage in illegal activities with her. A great film to watch if you’re looking for a comedy movie.

5. The Skin I Live In

If you are familiar with Silence of the Lambs, then you will see a few parallels in his film. It tracks a surgeon and his experimentation on a young woman, held hostage in a mansion. Although it is a horror movie, Almodóvar’s dark sense of humour lightens some of the more gruesome parts of it.