Television: As Seen by Pedro Almodóvar

As a way of passing time, most people like to sit in front of the television. They enjoy viewing things that can be entertaining or informative (or both at the same time). Watching TV is like taking a road trip minus the car. Just press your remote control and you can see things of different sceneries: dramatic, comedic, creepy, action-packed, etc.

There are two kinds of television: the useful one and the useless one. The useful one feeds our mind with insightful thoughts, while the useless one eats our time by parading a bunch of bullsh*t (e.g., celebrity gossips, "reality" shows).

Acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar mostly sees television as the useless one. Take note of how he presented the tube in two of his films:

Cinematography: The Skin I Live In

THE SKIN I LIVE IN (2011)
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Cinematographer: José Luis Alcaine

Almodóvar's The Skin I Live In is a twisted tale of madness, obsession, and revenge.

The film features Antonio Banderas in his most sinister role as Dr. Robert Ledgard, an exceptional surgeon haunted by the demise of both his wife and daughter. Dr. Ledgard is currently in the process of finishing the flawless skin. His guinea pig is a mysterious "woman" named Vera Cruz (played by the beautiful Elena Anaya). Vera also has her share of dark past, and wants out of her claustrophobic existence.

Aside from the strange nature of the film and the actors' performances, another thing that stood out for me is José Luis Alcaine's cinematography.

Vera's reflection.