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Born in Calzada de Calatrava, Spain. One of the most original writer-directors to emerge during the 1980s, Almodóvar has been called "Godard with a human face -- a happy face." While working for Madrid's National Telephone Company in the 1970s, he become a member of the city's pop subculture, making raunchy 8mm films, acting in avant-garde theater groups, and performing in drag in a punk-rock band (Almodóvar & McNamara). His first features -- PEPI, LUCI, BOM Y OTRAS CHICAS DEL MONTÓN / PEPI, LUCI, BOM AND OTHER GIRLS ON THE HEAP (1980), and LABERINTO DE PASIONES / LABYRINTH OF PASSIONS (1981) -- were extensions of his underground tastes and became cult hits, but ENTRE TINIEBLAS / DARK HABITS (1984), about an order of delinquent nuns, gained serious international attention. Almodovar's popularity increased with ¿QUÉ HE HECHO YO PARA MERECER ESTO?!! / WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? (1985), MATADOR (1986), and LA LEY DEL DESEO / LAW OF DESIRE (1987), which established his style of melodrama, comedy, and kitsch that frequently flouted conventions of taste. MUJERES AL BORDE DE UN ATAQUE DE NERVIOS / WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (1988), a more subdued and conventional but still distinctive comedy, became a worldwide hit and was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar®. The controversial ¡ATAME! / TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! (1990), TACONES LEJANOS / HIGH HEELS (1991), and KIKA (1993) show Almodóvar's creative energy running full speed. Other notable directing-writing credits include LA FLOR DE MI SECRETO / THE FLOWER OF MY SECRET (1995), CARNE TRÉMULA / LIVE FLESH (1997), TODO SOBRE ME MADRE / ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (1999), HABLE CON ELLA / TALK TO HER (2002), LA MALA EDUCACIÓN / THE BAD EDUCATION (2004), VOLVER / TO RETURN (2006), and LOS ABRAZOS ROTOS / BROKEN HUGS (scheduled for release in 2009).  Nominated for Achievement in Directing 2002: TALK TO HER  Best Achievement in Writing (Original Screenplay) 2002: TALK TO HER 2 nominations, 1 Award