PEDRO ALMODÓVAR HEADS TO THE WILD WEST
THE SPANISH FILMMAKER RIDES INTO NEW TERRAIN WITH HIS STARRY SHORT FILM STRANGE WAY OF LIFE
Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as Jake and Silva
THE WESTERN — STARK, dusty, often emotionally constipated — doesn’t seem an obvious match for Pedro Almodóvar, one of cinema’s most colourful, passionate directors. Which is exactly what makes Strange Way Of Life so interesting. The English-language short sees two ex-lovers, gunslinger Silva (Pedro Pascal) and sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke), reunite after 25 years. Silva wants to make a life together, but Jake insists it’s impossible. In 31 minutes, it plays with all the genre’s typical themes — violence, isolation, revenge — from a queer perspective.