Pedro Almodovar

photo from: http://www.foreignfilms.com/images/people/

Most people who know of the famous director and screenwriter Pedro Almodóvar would recognize him as the most influential Spanish filmmaker alive today. Almodóvar uses his satirical, wickedly poignant sense of humor to expose and break down social stereotypes while at the same celebrating and helping to shape Spanish national identity. His films have not only earned him numerous national and international awards - including a Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2002 for Hable Con Ella - they have changed the way people like me think about movies.

But the real reason his story is so inspiring has less to do with the awards he has won or his choice of profession than one might think. Although Almodóvar faced many obstacles growing up (being born into abject poverty, living in Franco-controlled Spain), he triumphed over them through ingenuity, determination and sheer force of will. Against all odds, Almodóvar overcame adversity and made himself into the person he is today. That's why he is my hero.

When he moved to Madrid as a teenager in the mid '60s, Almodóvar realized just how difficult it would be to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Not only was he too poor to attend the university, but registration at the Official School of Cinematic Arts was impossible because the school had been closed down by Franco's government. Almodóvar took a job as an administrative assistant to a Spanish telephone company, and finally earned enough to buy a hand-held Super 8 camera.

Throughout the 1970's, Almodóvar devoted himself to making short films with the help of his friends and whatever money they managed to scrape together. In 1980, he released his first feature-length film. Seven years later, he founded his own production company. To this day, Almodóvar's movies are shown in cinemas around the world. He continues to be renowned as one of the most talented and creative storytellers of his time. His life continues to serve as an inspiration to all those - filmmaker and non-filmmaker, alike - who need a little help believing that through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.