Pedro Almodóvar’s new film, “Strange Way of Life,” will debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, the film is a queer Western about Silva, played by Pascal, who journeys across the desert to meet up with his old friend, Sheriff Jake, portrayed by Hawke.
Almodóvar shot the film in Spain’s Almeria region, famous for its spaghetti Westerns, though the director claimed that he did not intentionally reference these movies.
The Spanish filmmaker initially contemplated directing “Brokeback Mountain,” envisioning a film that was much gayer and more sensually explicit than the final Hollywood version.
“Strange Way of Life” may serve as his response to this desire. In a recent podcast, the director confirmed that the film is a “queer Western.”
Almodóvar co-wrote and produced the film with his brother Augustin and Saint Laurent head designer Anthony Vaccarello, who also worked on the costumes.
“Strange Way of Life” is the second English-language film for the acclaimed Spanish director, following the success of his 2020 movie “The Human Voice.”
The Cannes Film Festival selected “Strange Way of Life” for its Official Selection. Fans of Almodóvar’s distinct style and storytelling can expect a fresh interpretation of the Western genre.
