Broken Embraces (soundtrack)

Broken Embraces
Film score by
Alberto Iglesias
Released11 August 2009
GenreFilm score
Length57:17
Label
Producer
Alberto Iglesias chronology
Che
(2009) 		Broken Embraces
(2010) 		Even the Rain
(2011)

Broken Embraces (Spanish: Los abrazos rotos) is the soundtrack album to the 2009 Spanish romantic drama film of the same name directed by Pedro Almodóvar starring Penélope Cruz and Lluís Homar. The album consisted of the film score composed by Alberto Iglesias, and was released through EMI and Parlophone on 11 August 2009.

Background

Broken Embraces is the sixth collaboration between Almodóvar and Iglesias.[1] The score utilizes Spanish jazz elements with the use of electric guitar in the noir sequences and flamenco piano, highlighting the jazz structure.[2] Spanish flamenco singer Miguel Poveda had performed vocals for few songs of the film. He accepted the offer, as he was in contact with the composer; Poveda recalled that Almodóvar had decided the music to be intense and elegant, which Iglesias followed. The singer also worked with the composer at his studio and the song "A Ciegas" was featured in the film.[3]

Reception

Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter wrote the "score by longtime collaborator Alberto Iglesias evokes the many movies the director embraces in Broken Embraces."[4] Omar Moore of RogerEbert.com wrote "beautiful music score".[5] Jonathan Holland of Variety wrote "Iglesias superbly evokes the moods and movies Embraces is so in thrall to."[6] Adrian Edwards of Gramophone wrote, "Broken Embraces – or, to give the film its Spanish title, Los abrazos rotos – is a compelling soundtrack to relish."[7]

Eric Calderwood of Paste called it a "haunting" score.[8] Robert Barry of The Quietus wrote "Alberto Iglesias's music recalls neo-noirs like The Last Seduction".[9] Jake Coyle of Today called it a "sensuous score".[10] Amy Biancolli of SFGate wrote "Alberto Iglesias' score mutters and swells, portending sexy doom in minor keys [adding] up to an entertaining combination of suspense and melodrama."[11] Critic based at Santa Barbara Independent wrote "a musical score of uncommon, cliché-free grace is supplied by the director's right-hand composer, Alberto Iglesias."[12] Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com wrote Iglesias's score "carries conscious echoes of the vortex of strings Bernard Herrmann created for Vertigo."[13]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Títulos De Crédito"1:31
2."Tema de Amor Ciego" (1)1:15
3."La Visita de Ray X"1:13
4."El Cajón Abierto"1:34
5."El Espía Atrapado"1:44
6."Llamadas Telefónicas"1:39
7."Caida, Recogida y Rayos X"3:54
8."Habitación Con Amante"1:33
9."Final y "a Ciegas" por Miguel Poveda"7:37
10."El Sabor de Tu Boca"1:10
11."Werewolf" (Cat Power)4:08
12."Tema de Amor Ciego" (2)1:07
13."Famara"2:35
14."Peeping Tom"3:02
15."Pasillo del Tiempo"1:53
16."Encuentro"1:27
17."La Noche"0:54
18."Retake"1:23
19."Dona Sangre"2:41
20."Chicas y Maletas"0:51
21."El Documental"1:52
22."Hospital y Famara"2:08
23."Los Abrazos Rotos"3:01
24."Vitamin C" (Remastered 2004) (Can)3:34
25."Robot Oeuf" (Uffie)3:31
Total length:57:17

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result Ref.
2009 European Film Awards Best Composer Alberto Iglesias Won [14]
[15]
2010 Goya Awards Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias Won [16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes:[21]

  • Music composer, director, producer, conductor and concertmaster – Alberto Iglesias
  • Co-producer – Javier Casado
  • Concertmaster – Perry Montague-Mason
  • Music coordinator – Ana Eusa, Javier Martín
  • Orchestra contractor – Charlotte Matthews
  • Recording, mixing and programming – José Luis Crespo
  • Assistant mixing – Carlos Alberich, Carlos Del Río
  • Music editor, assistant composer and copyist – David Cerrejón
  • Score technical engineer – Chris Barrett, Laurence Greed
  • Liner notes – Alberto Iglesias
Instruments
  • Cello, violoncello – Anton Gakkel
  • Double bass – Chris Laurence, Pablo Martín
  • Electric guitar – Javier Crespo
  • Harp – Skaila Kanga
  • Kora – Samba Hamari Sy, Male, Maya Jobarteh
  • Piano – Javier Casado
  • Solo violin – Ara Malikian
  • Tenor saxophone, duduk – Martin Robertson
  • Viola – Julia Málkova, Peter Lale
  • Violin – Egor Vasilenko, Laurentin Gregoresko, Laurentiu Gregoresko, Perry Montague-Mason

References

  1. ^ Scott-Anderton, Florence (25 November 2021). "Soundtrack Mix #21: Flower of Sound - The Film Music of Alberto Iglesias". Mubi (in Italian). Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. ^ Greene, Steve (21 January 2021). "Pedro Almodóvar & Composer Alberto Iglesias". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  3. ^ Manjavacas, Rafael (31 May 2009). "Interview with Miguel Poveda". DeFlamenco (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  4. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (19 May 2009). "Broken Embraces — Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved 22 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ Moore, Omar (14 December 2012). "Almodovar's passionate celebration of cinema: Omar Moore on "Broken Embraces" | Far Flungers". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  6. ^ Holland, Jonathan (17 March 2009). "Broken Embraces". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  7. ^ Edwards, Adrian. "Iglesias, A – Broken Embraces OST". Gramophone. Retrieved 22 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ Calderwood, Eric (11 December 2009). "Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos Rotos)". Paste. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. ^ Barry, Robert (26 August 2009). "Mirror's Image: Pedro Almodovar's Broken Embraces Review". The Quietus. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  10. ^ Coyle, Jake (17 November 2009). "'Broken Embraces' comes off a little too tidy". Today. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  11. ^ Biancolli, Amy (18 December 2009). "Movie review: 'Broken Embraces'". SFGate. Retrieved 22 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ "Broken Embraces". Santa Barbara Independent. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  13. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (19 November 2009). ""Broken Embraces" and the ties that bind". Salon.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Awards 2009". European Film Academy. Archived from the original on 13 January 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  15. ^ Brooks, Xan (9 November 2009). "Un Prophète leads European film awards nominations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Gala de la 24 edición · 2010". Premios Goya (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  17. ^ Hopewell, John; Mayorga, Emilio (15 February 2010). "'Cell 211' dominates Goya awards". variety.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Estos son los premios de los PREMIOS GOYA 2010". Premios Goya (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Estas son las nominaciones de los PREMIOS GOYA 2010". Premios Goya (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  20. ^ Rolfe, Pamela (14 February 2010). "'Cell 211' is the big winner at Goya Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  21. ^ Alberto Iglesias. Los Abrazos Rotos (Media notes). EMI.
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