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Poster for The Flower of My Secret

The Flower of My Secret

Seen it?

1995 | 106 min | Drama, Romance

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 4 times its budget, despite almost no lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved All of Us Strangers or The Prince of Tides, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 46 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • It's in Spanish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Middle-aged romance author Leo writes under a pseudonym, since she despises her own work. At home, her husband, who works overseas, is distant both physically and emotionally. As she reevaluates her life and writing, Leo is led to an unexpected relationship with Ángel, a sensitive newspaper editor.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.8 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $19 million worldwide on a $5 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 16K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Pedro Almodóvar

  • Marisa ParedesLeo Macías
  • Juan EchanoveÁngel
  • Carme EliasBetty
  • Rossy de PalmaRosa
  • Chus LampreaveMadre de Leo
  • Kiti MánverManuela
  • Joaquín CortésAntonio
  • Manuela VargasBlanca
  • Imanol AriasPaco
  • Gloria MuñozAlicia