Review: The Human Voice

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

Pedro Almodovar's "The Human Voice" is essentially a one-woman - well, and dog - show starring Tilda Swinton that is ornamented and enacted in the typical Almodovar style: props and decor bursting with color, some melodramatic flourishes and a dab of dark humor here and there. It's also apparently based on a Jean Cocteau play titled "La Voix Humane" and runs a mere 30 minutes. It's the shortest film I've ever reviewed on this site, although it is by no means a slight trifle.

At the same time, it's a minor Almodovar film, but one that's effective and enjoyable enough. The picture opens with Swinton and her pup visiting a hardware store and her purchasing an axe, which might lead you to believe that some sort of foul play is in motion. Instead, she arrives home and puts the axe to use on a man's suit, which is neatly laid out on a bed.

Swinton's nameless woman then pops a mouthful of pills and guzzles it down with some wine before reclining on the bed and apparently hoping for death to overtake her. Instead, her dog licks her face to awaken her as the phone rings. She answers and engages in a long conversation that makes up most of the rest of the film's brief running time.

As it turns out, the woman has been involved with a man for the past four years, but now he has left - perhaps for another woman - and this phone call will be their last contact. The woman goes through the various stages of grief - at first, she attempts to make him believe she's doing fine and tells him she spent the previous evening at the theater with friends. Then, she tries bargaining with him, then threatens her own safety and then pleads with him for mercy.

This all leads to an ending that might seem on the surface to be apocalyptic - you'll know what I mean when you see the woman's most drastic action - but then it ends on sort of a lark involving the woman and her dog. Almodovar films often feature great tragedy and a fair amount of drama, but there's always room for redemption or levity.

A few years ago, Almodovar made his best picture in a decade with the remarkable and personal "Pain and Glory." "The Human Voice," on the other hand, is the type of small film that could be knocked off somewhat quickly to keep the creative juices flowing. It's enjoyable, Swinton carries the picture and the camera work is strong, especially considering the tight quarters in which it is mostly set, but it's not the type of movie to rank among the great Spanish director's best. 

Almodovar currently has more films in the works than he possibly ever has - there are several in various stages of production during the next few years - so until then, "The Human Voice" is an amusing little picture to keep fans satiated.