La Concejela Antropófoga

Short film La Concejela Antropófoga by Pedro Almodóvar

First post of the year! It's been a long time since I've written something here, but I definitively didn't give up (yet) of this (post?) modern habit, I mean blogging. During the last months I've been working hard, among troubles, delays and (of course) some joy but my mind was somehow aways turned to the subject of what I'm going to write on my blog next. Finally I find some little time and the right inspiration to sit down and share some worthy deluxe garbage with my three readers. But in this case the topic hasn't nothing to do with "garbage". I'm going to talk about a little treasure I've just found today (thanks to João Carvalho, one of my most almodovarians friends in all senses). During a phone call between us I've described my currently state of mind like a laberinto de pasiones (labiryth of passions) in allusion to Pedro Almodóvar's second lenght film. And of course it turned into a very nice conversation about the Spaniard director and his marvelous filmography. Then João told me about a short film produced by El Deseo (Almodóvar's film company) and we exchange some nice Youtube links. I've sent him one of my favorites Laberinto de Pasiones scenes and I was absolutely sure that nothing could overcome the acid humor of those old and anthological scenes back in the 80's (during that great times of the Movida Madrileña). But then I was wrong. When I've checked "La Concejela Antropófoga" (The Cannibalistic Councilwoman) I had to agree with João that our favorite director had overcome even himself. First of all "La Concejela Antropófoga" was made just after Almodóvar finished the last shootings of his forthcoming film Los Abrazos Rotos starred by Penélope Cruz. He had the insight to write a monologue for great spanish actress Carmen Machi who just had a small role in "Abrazos". In the last shooting night Almodóvar took advantage of the set and crew from "Abrazos" to film a short film starred by Carmen Machi (as the same character in " Los Abrazos Rotos") in a totally other history . Genius! Then "La Concejela Antropófoga" was born as a little whim of one of the greatest filmmakers of all times, who signed that little masterpiece with the pseudonym of Mateo Blanco (one of the male characters of "Los Abrazos Rotos"). And as I said before the short is a monologue of a councilor of a right party from Madrid who conducts for a friend (who sleeps almost all the time in her colorful kitchen) a passionate defense of sexual "promiscuity", while eats pudding and smells cocaine. Hilarious! Acid , provocative and perverted humor just like Almodóvar's very beginning. It brings us back to the great times of Pepe, Luci, Bom y Otras Chicas del Montón, Laberinto de Pasiones, ¿ Que He Hecho Yo para Merecer Eso? and Entre Tinieblas. Pure ecstasy for the fans of the old and good Patty Diphusa. After all Carmen Machi deserves a lenght film just made for her.

And here an interview with Pedro Almodóvar for Canal + where he talks about "La Concejela Antropófoga".

Patty Diphusa - La Estrella del Porno

There are few books I use to read over and over again. One of them is "Patty Diphusa Y Otros Textos" by Pedro Almodóvar. I am a big fan of Almodóvar´s filmography and about one year ago Renata Voss, a good girlfriend of mine, knowing that had the great idea to give me this book, and best - the original one in spanish. And everytime I read this (I must confess I have read it at least three times in one year!) I wonder why it has to come to the end. Can´t help stop reading this book! When I read this I get so afraid to come to the end that I prefer read it as slow as possible to avoid to finish the lecture quickly.Patty Diphusa is Almodóvar´s female alter Ego and he used to publish small stories about her back in the beginning of the 80´s on the spanish vanguard newspaper "La Luna". Patty Diphusa was a kind of the quintessential character of the La movida madrileña and also the inspiration to all those post-modern female characters of his first films.(although strangely she has never appeared in any of his films as Patty Diphusa herself. In Laberinto de Pasiones, Almodovar´s second featured film, she is reprensented through the transexual character of movida´s performer and plastic artist Fabio MacNamara.) "Patty Diphusa Y Otros Textos" brings back some sort of amazing adventures of this post-modern woman, a self proclaimed "porn star" and party girl , a bit nimphomaniac, a bit junkie, a bit naiv, who never sleeps and never is depressiv! Guess will start to read it again right now. (:

And here you can watch one of the infamous scenes of "Laberinto de Pasiones" (1982) with the fabulous Fabio MacNamara: