Pedro Almodóvar shares preview of new short starring Tilda Swinton

Pedro Almodóvar has offered a preview of his new short drama The Human Voice, filmed in English and starring Tilda Swinton.

The Spanish filmmaker’s brother and producer Agustín Almodóvar shared a 57-second video on Twitter in which the British actress is seen walking silently across a grey background in a bright red dress.

The latest project by the award-winning director will officially premiere at the Venice Film Festival, which is scheduled to take place between September 2 and 12 amid heightened coronavirus safety measures.

Festival organizers said they are also planning to award a Life Achievement Golden Lion to Swinton, as well as to Hong Kong director Ann Hui.

A few days ago, Almodóvar stated that he felt like returning to Venice on such a “particular” year. “It is an honor to accompany Tilda on a year when she will receive a special award,” said the Spanish director, who accepted the same prize last year.

“The Human Voice is a festival celebrating Tilda, a display of her infinite range as an actress,” he said. “Directing her has been spectacular.”

The shared video clip has no dialogue. Instead, viewers hear music written by the score composer Alberto Iglesias, a longtime collaborator of Almodóvar’s.

The Human Voice is an adaptation of Jean Cocteau’s 1930 play La voix humaine, which also served as inspiration for earlier work by Almodóvar, including his 1987 Law of Desire and 1988 Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

English version by Susana Urra.