The plot centres around a blind film director called Harry Caine who, in a bid to forget the trauma of his past, has changed his name. One day, out of the blue a young man arrives at Caine's house under the guise of a script writer, Caine is suspicious and rightfully so; the man is from his past. At this point the film rewinds back to the nineties where we meet Lena (Penelope Cruz), an aspiring actress who gets a part in one of Caine's films thanks to her rich lover. From here the film escalates into violence and heartbreak, leading us full circle right back to the beginning. As a viewer you are left wondering what could have happened but while some explanations are predictable none are groan worthy. The themes of the film, such as jealousy, love, betrayal and loneliness are not new but are told in a way that doesn't seem cliched or repetitive. Instead they appear to focus on the effects of these subjects on peoples lives and careers. 

The film is a likely hit among fans of art and fashion. Cruz's character is lucky enough to wear her fair share of nineties Versace & Chanel. The art in the film is also spectacular with many pricey pieces popping up in the house of Cruz's lover, billionaire Ernesto Martell. The sets in Broken Embraces are wonderfully kitsch and very Spanish, in particular those of the film inside the film, 'Chicks & Handbags'. Visually, the film is typical of Almodovar who is considered the king of Spanish cinema by most.