Pedro Almodóvar's Strange Way Of Life flew under the radar during theatrical release in 2023, and with a runtime of 31 minutes, this Western had plenty more to offer to fill a feature-length runtime. Strange Way Of Life comes almost two decades after Almodóvar refused to work on Brokeback Mountain, fearing he wouldn't be granted the freedom to capture the nature of two men enraptured by love. With an elegantly depicted romance by Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, Almodóvar's story incriminates outlaw Silva (Pedro Pascal) and Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke) when the former lovers reconnect after 25 years apart.
Pedro Pascal's star in Hollywood has skyrocketed thanks to his lead roles in HBO's The Last Of Us and Disney's The Mandalorian. Strange Way Of Life provides Pedro Pascal with a strong script and a compelling connection with his co-stars, which are the ideal conditions for him to deliver a standout performance. Creating shorts is familiar ground for Pedro Almodóvar, but given its compelling storyline, it's a shame that A Strange Way Of Life is limited to a shorter runtime.
Strange Way of Life Would've Worked Better As A Full-Length Feature
The film's runtime was not heavily publicized in its marketing.
Strange Way Of Life had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, where it received an incredibly warm reception from its viewers. News of the Western drama hit online platforms shortly after, where it received hype from audiences who were overjoyed at the prospect of Pascal and Hawke's collaboration in a tale of a forbidden romance. Despite this, Pedro Almodóvar's short was released theatrically in Spain in May, but not to global audiences until far later. Shockingly, the U.K.'s release faced one-night-only screenings, regardless of its well-regarded reception from critics, and the high demand from audiences.
It's a great pity Almodóvar did not opt to turn his story into a full-length feature movie.
Strange Way Of Life definitely would have benefited from a full-length feature runtime, not only to provide it with the scope to perform better at the box office, but also to expand its reach to a broader audience. Not to mention, to be eligible for nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, the criteria outlines that the project must reach 40 minutes in length. Considering the buzz around the Western in the lead-up to its release, it's a great pity Almodóvar did not opt to turn his story into a full-length feature movie.
Pascal And Hawke's Romance Could Have Been Better Developed
The Authenticity Between Silva And Jake Is Enough To Make Audiences Want More.
Strange Way Of Life's greatest strength is the relationship between protagonists Silva and Jake. The lovers' tale begins with Silva setting off across the desert after 25 years of longing for his former partner, Jake. In a heated dispute, the outlaw's feelings for the Sheriff come to light, but Jake would rather put their past behind them. The narrative leads further into the crime Silva finds himself wrapped up in, and the 31-minute runtime doesn't quite do justice to the conflict Jake carries between the justice he must serve as Sheriff, and his prohibited love that spans across decades.
Where To Watch Strange Way Of Life
The 2023 Western drama short film Strange Way of Life stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as two gunslingers – how can people watch the project?
Jake becomes suspicious of Silva, who he begins to assume has returned to town to deter him from arresting Silva's son, Joe, who's complicit in the murder of Jake's brother's widow. Pascal and Hawke's on-screen chemistry is electric and brings an authenticity to their relationship that entices audiences from the very beginning. Without question, their relationship had plenty of room to grow, particularly in exploring their shared past, to strengthen the attachment that audiences immediately felt towards both characters and their joint history.
Pedro Almodóvar Has A Preference For Shorts
Almodóvar's Upcoming Project Is Set To Be Released This October.
Pedro Almodóvar has a diverse background in film, and shorts are a format that the writer is more than familiar with. Strange Way Of Life is the filmmaker's second English-language endeavor, with The Human Voice being the first in 2020. Almodóvar has spoken openly about the format of shorts, and how they grant him the scope for freedom within his projects. The filmmaker knew from the get-go that Strange Way Of Life would not run as a feature to keep it "very abstract", as an extended runtime could not capture the essence of the men's intimacy in a delicate enough manner.
Pedro Almodóvar's upcoming project is a feature-length movie that features Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, The Room Next Door. This project will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and will center on a best-selling writer who connects with her estranged mother after numerous years. The Room Next Door's runtime is one hour and 50 minutes, a feature length that could have benefited Strange Way Of Life.
