Bitter Christmas
Pedro Almodóvar's latest film is a complex exploration of grief, loss, and creativity, set across two timelines. On Thursday, 29 October 2026, the Electric Palace Hastings in Hastings will screen this melodrama.
Dir: Pedro Almodóvar
Cast: Bárbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Victoria Luengo, Patrick Criado, Milena Smit, Quim Gutiérrez, Rossy de Palma
111 mins · 2026 · Spain · Cert 15 · Spanish
IMDb 6.3/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 87% · Metacritic 69/100 · TMDB 6.2/10 · Trakt 60%
Awards: 3 nominations total
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Bitter Christmas took place 29 Oct 2026 at Electric Palace Hastings.
The latest film from acclaimed director Pedro Almodóvar is a deeply personal and complex exploration of grief, loss, and creativity. Bitter Christmas tells the story of a woman who, after the death of her mother, throws herself into her work as a form of escape, only to find herself struggling with writer's block and forced to confront her emotions. The film is set across two distinct timelines, one in 2004 and the other in 2025, and features a talented cast, including Bárbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia, and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón.
As a drama-comedy, Bitter Christmas is a characteristic Almodóvar film, full of vibrant colours and intricate storytelling. The film has been praised for its well-crafted characters, comic rhythms, and nested storytelling, with many critics noting the brutal honesty with which Almodóvar approaches his subject matter. With a runtime of 111 minutes and a certificate of 15, this Spanish-language film is a must-see for fans of Almodóvar's unique style.
The film has received generally favourable reviews, with an approval rating of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 69 out of 100 on Metacritic. Viewers have also been impressed, with many praising the film's original structure and the way it explores the complexities of grief and creativity. Some have noted that the film can be messy and confusing at times, but overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging work.
On Thursday, 29 October 2026, the Electric Palace Hastings in Hastings will screen Bitter Christmas. Tickets and details are available with the button beside this article. This is a unique opportunity to see Almodóvar's latest film on the big screen, and fans of the director will not want to miss it. With its complex characters, intricate storytelling, and exploration of the human experience, Bitter Christmas is a film that will linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
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What viewers say
Kitmoon · 7/10
Una autoficción de una autoficción de una autoficción. Una película deprimente, pero interesante. 🌑🌓🌕🌕🌕
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greenpapillon
Pedro Almodovar is NOT anymore ALMODOVAR. He is JUST Pedro now. He did amazing movies and since a decade now CANNOT.
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doisefes · 8/10
O que mais gostei é justamente essa ideia de usar a ficção como forma de elaborar aquilo que não conseguimos enfrentar diretamente. O filme fala de luto, relacionamentos, criação artística e, principalmente, de como às vezes transformamos a vida das pessoas próximas em matéria-prima para contar nossas próprias histórias.
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Marcelo Alves · 8/10
Adoro a forma como Almodóvar discute ficção e realidade nos dias de hoje num filme em que o protagonista claramente é um alter-ego do diretor.
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adansantos · 5/10
Just not on the usual Almodovar level. Acting is good, especially Rossy de Palma & Carmen Machi, but the plot is uninteresting and a confusing mess of characters and constant jumps between reality and fiction. And the ending is lacklustre... does not feel like an actual ending.
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frncstr91 · 6/10
After seeing the movie, I get the title, even though it's a marketing nightmare. Honestly, they should have either released it during actual Christmas or just used a different name. As expected for an Almodóvar film, the acting is superb across the board. The plot is fun and interesting, and while it drags a bit in the middle, the strong start and ending make up for it.
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CinemaSerf · 6/10
Split across two distinct timelines, this really quite messy and often almost incoherent drama tells us the story of the migraine-prone "Elsa" (Bárbara Lennie) as she recovers from the death of her mother - after a lingering illness - in 2004. She heads to the calm of the black-sanded Lanzarote to rejuvenate her writing career with her troubled friend "Natalia" (Milena Smit) whilst abandoning her hunky fireman/stripper boyfriend "Beau" (Patrick…
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