Pedro Almodovar fears Hollywood system

NEW YORK—Pedro Almodovar says he would like to make a movie in English but is scared of losing his independence in Hollywood. "Part of my career I would like to make a movie in English," the Oscar-winning Spanish director said Saturday at a New Yorker Festival event, adding that he had been approached several times to make a film in the United States.
But he said he feared the Hollywood production system. "I was always scared of losing my independence and freedom.
"My experience, talking with other directors here, even Scorsese, I said, 'Oh my God, this is incredible. I feel more lucky than you, I mean I work in much better conditions than you.'"
Almodovar said in the past he had been interested in making films based on several novels in English, such as "The Silence of the Lambs," "The Hours," "The Accidental Tourist" and "The Human Stain." But he found out their film rights had already been sold. He would do a film in English, but with European money, he said.
Almodovar's latest film "Volver" — a comic drama starring Penelope Cruz about women making do without men — has been chosen to represent Spain among movies vying to be candidates for the best foreign film Oscar. It opens in the United States in November.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce its five candidates for best foreign film Jan. 23. The Oscar ceremony will be held Feb. 25.
Almodovar's "All About My Mother" won the 2000 Oscar for best foreign film and "Talk to Her" won the 2003 Oscar for best original screenplay.