The highly anticipated short film “Strange Way of Life” by Pedro Almodóvar has landed its first contract ahead of its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
MUBI, the independent streamer, distributor, and producer, has acquired full rights for Italy and Latin America in the project’s first multi-territory contract. Pathe will distribute the picture in the United Kingdom on a long-standing arrangement.
“Strange Way of Life” stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as two shooters who rejoin after 25 years in southern Spain’s Tabernas desert. Almodóvar defined the half-hour picture as a “queer Western, in the sense that there are two men and they love each other,” as he remarked last December on Dua Lipa’s “At Your Service” podcast.
Following Tilda Swinton’s “The Human Voice” in 2020, this is Almodóvar’s second effort into English-language filmmaking. “Strange Way of Life” will be shown in Cannes with Hawke and Pascal in attendance, followed by an onstage discussion with Almodóvar and the film’s key stars.
The all-rights agreement for Almodóvar’s famous short film’s release in Italy and throughout Latin American regions was signed directly between the director’s own El Deseo company and MUBI, which has a distribution strategy that combines streaming and theatrical play.
“Strange Way of Life” is characterized by Almodóvar in his directors’ statement as follows: “A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek.” He pays a visit to Sheriff Jake. Both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, were hired shooters twenty-five years ago. Silva pays him a visit under the guise of reconciling with an old friend, and they do celebrate their reunion, but the next morning Sheriff Jake informs him that the reason for his visit is not to revisit their old acquaintance….”
“Strange Way of Life” is produced by El Deseo and contains costumes created by Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello, who is also an associate producer on the film, as well as a music composition by Spanish musician and regular Almodóvar collaborator Alberto Iglesias.
MUBI, which is available in 190 countries, has recently increased its prominence by acquiring prominent arthouse films. Among the recent and upcoming titles are Ira Sachs’ “Passages,” Davy Chou’s “Return to Seoul,” Park Chan-wook’s “Decision to Leave,” and Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun.”