: His upbringing in a white cave-house in Valencia with his mother, Jacinta (played by Penélope Cruz in flashbacks).

The story follows (played by Antonio Banderas ), an aging film director in physical and creative decline. Plagued by chronic back pain, headaches, and depression, Salvador finds himself unable to keep making films.

: His early awakening to sexuality and the "first flush of lust".

Pain and Glory (Spanish: Dolor y gloria ) is a deeply moving, semi-autobiographical masterpiece by . Released in 2019, it serves as a pensive and visually stunning reflection on aging, memory, and the "catharsis of creative work". Core Premise and Plot

: His intense relationship with Federico in 1980s Madrid and the lingering "pain of the breakup".

The narrative beautifully "toggles between" his present-day struggles and vivid memories of his past:

: Salvador's present-day attempts to mend fractured relationships, most notably with Alberto , an actor he hasn't spoken to in decades. Why It Resonates