Salvador Mallo (Antonio Banderas), a famous film director, recently lost his mother, Jacinta ( Julieta Serrano) and suffers from back pain. He agrees to do a Q&A for a screening of a newly restored version of one of his films, Sabor, so he tracks down the lead actor, Alberto Crespo (Asier Etxeandia), to ask him join him for the Q&A. They haven't seen in each other in a few decades, but rekindle their friendship. Mallo recalls memories from his childhood when he (now played by Asier Flores) lived in a refurbished cave with his mother (now played by Penelope Cruz).

      Pain and Glory is a bittersweet and poignant story about the struggles of an artist grappling with old age and childhood memories. The semi-autobiographical screenplay by writer/director Pedro Almodóvar jumps back and forth between past and present seamlessly without any clunkiness, convolutedness or uneveness. Salvador's childhood and his evolving relationship with his mother affects his life in many ways which makes the film relatable because everyone's present-day emotional ailments are rooted in the past. As Pain and Glory plot progresses, it becomes increasingly complex, layered and even surprising. There's also just the right amount of nuance and no reliance on over-explaining, especially during a pivotal moment during Salvador's childhood when he comes-of-age and has a sexual awakening. Almodóvar, like all great filmmakers, trusts the audience's patience, intelligence and emotions. He treats Salvador like a human being which is a testament to his humanism, a truly special effect. He doesn't try to push the envelope here like he had done in his past films, so the film remains a tender character study from first frame to last. There's also some witty comic relief every now and then which helps to counterbalance the darker, heavier themes.

      While Almodóvar paints the window into Salvador's soul, it's Antonio Banderas who opens that window widely as much as Renée Zellweger did in Judy. You forget that you're watching Banderas because he fully transforms into Salvador. He deserves to be nominated for a Best Actor award come Oscar time. Most importantly, though, he finds the emotional truth of his role which allows the audience to feel empathy for Salvador every step of the way even when he's battling addiction to cocaine. His reunion with his old friend/actor Alberto is one of the film's most powerful and beautiful scenes. At a running time of 112 minutes, Pain and Glory manages to be warm, tender and profound. It's one of the best films of Almodóvar's career. Antonio Banderas gives an Oscar-worthy performance.