During the press conference for "Bitter Christmas", the film competing for the Palme d'Or for the seventh time, the director from La Mancha referred to Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Vladimir Putin as "monsters."
Almodóvar defended the moral duty of artists to not remain silent and to speak "without euphemisms" about current tragedies. Wearing a pin with the message "Free Palestine," the 76-year-old filmmaker urged Europe to stand up as a shield against the delusions of these leaders, emphasizing that on the continent, international laws are followed, and that Europe will never submit to Trump's policies. These words echo those of actor Javier Bardem, who recently criticized the "toxic masculinity" of these same leaders, accusing them of causing thousands of deaths due to a military attitude of arrogance.
In the artistic realm, "Bitter Christmas" explores the life of a film director struggling with inspiration. The film, starring Spanish actress Bárbara Lennie and Argentine actor Leonardo Sbaraglia, represents a new attempt by Almodóvar to win the top prize at Cannes, an award that has eluded him despite having two Oscars and a Golden Lion. The director stated that he does not feel frustrated by this, affirming that awards depend on very heterogeneous juries and that he never attends the festival with the "feeling of being a winner."
Reflecting on his career, Almodóvar pondered how his cinema has gained in depth but has lost in humor during this century, although this film recovers certain comedic elements. Looking to the future, the director revealed that he is already working on a new script that he plans to film in spring 2027, aiming to fully recapture dark humor.