What is the film "Bitter Christmas" about?

The story follows Elsa, an advertising director who writes a script inspired by someone else's pain, and the film explores the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Who stars in the film?

The main roles are played by Bárbara Lennie and Leonardo Sbaraglia, alongside Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Victoria Luengo, Milena Smit, and Rossy de Palma.

What are the early reviews saying about the film?

Critics describe it as "typical Almodóvar," visually lavish and melodramatic, though some consider it not his strongest work.

Where can the film be seen in Croatia?

The film "Bitter Christmas" is available in domestic cinemas from July 30, 2026.

Movies & TV

Almodóvar's 'Bitter Christmas' Arrives in Croatian Cinemas After Cannes

F.S. · 30. 07. 2026. | 2 min

The new film by acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, a visually lavish melodrama with an excellent cast, is screening in domestic cinemas from July 30.

Summary

Pedro Almodóvar's new film "Bitter Christmas" (Gorki Božić) is showing in Croatian cinemas from July 30.
The plot follows advertising director Elsa as she writes a script about someone else's pain, exploring the boundaries of reality and fiction.
Critics highlight the visual brilliance and melodrama, though some consider it slightly weaker in the famous director's oeuvre.

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After its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Pedro Almodóvar's new film Bitter Christmas (Gorki Božić) is now showing in Croatian cinemas from today, July 30, reports Story.hr. The legendary Spanish director returns with this work to themes of creativity, memory, and the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Plot and Cast

According to Story.hr, the story centers on Elsa, an advertising director writing a script inspired by someone else's pain. What begins as one story gradually turns into a complex interplay of past and present, turning the film into a kind of autofiction. The main roles are played by Bárbara Lennie and Leonardo Sbaraglia, joined by Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Victoria Luengo, Milena Smit, and Almodóvar's longtime collaborator Rossy de Palma.

From the Golden Lion to Cannes

Bitter Christmas follows an exceptionally successful period for Almodóvar, whose previous film The Room Next Door won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The new work was presented this year in Cannes and has now begun regular theatrical distribution across Europe.

What the Critics Say

Initial impressions from critics highlight the visual splendor and the director's signature style. Journal.hr reports that many emphasize it as a "typical Almodóvar," a metatextual work that once again tackles creative crisis and the boundary between life and fiction. The same source notes that the film is not his strongest, but praises its complex structure, dual timelines, and the performances. Story.hr adds that early reviews highlight the lavish cinematography, saturated color palette, and melodrama as typical elements of Almodóvar's world.

Compared to his earlier Pain and Glory, Bitter Christmas is described as a lighter and more playful work. Nevertheless, most critics agree that even in this film, Almodóvar remains one of the most distinctive auteurs in contemporary cinema.