The Human Voice

2020 Directed by Pedro Almodóvar

A short film adaptation of Jean Cocteau's one-act play. It follows a desperate woman who waits for the phone call of the lover who has just abandoned her.

Tilda Swinton Agustín Almodóvar Miguel Almodóvar Pablo Almodóvar Diego Pajuelo Carlos García Cambero

Alternative Title

La voz humana

drama

30 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Karsten Runquist ★★★½ 12

NYFF
Almodovar's THE HUMAN VOICE, shot in the middle of the pandemic, is a vibrant and expressive look at reflection. Be it a reflection of a past relationship or of your past self. You could argue they're one and the same. It's got AirPods, Phantom Thread on blu-ray, and Tilda Swinton. What's not to love?
Review by Lucy 3

NYFF 2020: film #10
“but admit, at one time we dreamed the same”
oh to be the airpods in tilda swinton’s ears. this was gorgeous, a bite-sized look at heartbreak and the confusion, sadness and anger that comes with it. and that DOG!
Review by Owen ★★★½

Tilda Swinton with a Phantom Thread Blu-Ray, going insane with an axe in her house, drinking coffee, wearing AirPods, and reflecting on her relationships...she is literally me!
Review by muriel 8

she is literally me
Review by Julian The Film Seeker ★★★½ 8

As Pedro Almodóvar's first foray into the English language, The Human Voice also marks an interesting first for the director as he centres the entire 30 minute runtime around a single performer. But don't worry, you still get all the Almodóvar hallmarks that you either love or loathe; Female-centred storytelling? Check! The colour red? Check! Ample melodrama? Double check!
The one-way conversation that makes up the majority of the short admittedly reaches levels of flamboyance that border on excessive even for the famous Spaniard, and with only a single player, Almodóvar doesn't exactly get to implement the twisty storytelling of which he's grown so fond over the years. But it's very clear that he and Tilda Swinton are fully aware…
Review by Allison M. 🌱 2

“I don't stop. I'm escaping.”
NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL 58 — FILM #1
Tilda Swinton's style is incomparable. Her costumes were immaculate: the orange-red hoop dress, a black dress whose essence echoes The Skin I Live In, a blue suit with a scarf the exact same shade, a crazily colorful jumpsuit, and other sumptuous joys to look at.
In the Q&A, Swinton and Almodóvar seemed like long lost twins, reunited by their love of cinema. What better artists could have worked together? As Tilda Swinton's unnamed character's media is shown, we are spoiled from glimpsing their taste: the Shoplifters, Phantom Thread, Kill Bill, and Written on the Wind DVDs as well as some books including the Truman Capote penned Breakfast…
Review by Liam Trump 19

New York Film Festival 2020
The Human Voice is a vibrant, yet dark depiction of heartbreak with Tilda Swinton’s performance speaking volumes. The score, colors, and the unique set design all contribute in making Pedro Almodóvar’s storytelling that much more memorable. This film takes a wider look into complex experiences and how they can be simplified down until they are mere fragments of a greater story. This can be seen in the sets and dialogue, giving this film a voice unlike any other short film I’ve seen.
Review by laura ★★★★ 3

was tempted to immediately come on here & give this five stars after she went and bought an axe after watching phantom thread
Review by MarMar! ★★★★½ 14

In 30 mins this gave us a beautifully shot film, a dashing dog, exquisite production design, that flawless red dress and one of if not Tilda Swinton's best acting performance. So much emotion, range and certainty put into this short film. It reminds me so much of Pain & Glory. It's simply quite fascinating.
Review by fran hoepfner ★★★ 3

great font
Review by john ★★★

(** NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL 2020 : FILM #7 **)
Please don’t tell me this is what I look like when I’m having conversations on the phone with AirPods on...
Tilda Swinton has always been next level. The set design is gorgeous. Dash is a good dog.
There isn't much more I can say about something this brief. Check it out for yourselves whenever it's available!
Review by Robert Daniels ★★★★

Pedro Almodóvar does more in 30 min than most filmmakers do in 150. THE HUMAN VOICE is a melodramatic and eccentric English-language debut for the famed Spanish director. Tilda Swinton making coffee gave me life. I just wish this short was longer.

Recent reviews

Review by fabricio Galdino

dublado em russo e sem legenda. outro dia eu volto
Review by Víctor Pernas ★★

Algún iluminado estaba echándose las manos a la cabeza porque no habían nominado este bodrio a los Óscar.
Review by opio_ingles49 ★★★★★

La fascinante Tilda Swinton es una verdadera chica Almodóvar, una mujer al borde de un ataque de nervios. Su performance en The Human Voice, basada en la obra homónima de Jean Cocteau, es sobresaliente y cuenta con destellos de humor. La estética es extraordinaria.
Review by Marco Bourscheid ★★★★★

isso que dá vender machado sem fio
Review by Raoul_D ★★★★

Dash the dog
Review by antoniodstefan

Wasn’t rlly that into it at first but it grew on me
Review by ToTheMovies ★★★★

Excellent
Review by Vinícius Neris ★★★★★

Fantástica adaptação do texto.
Review by Julian The Film Seeker ★★★½ 8

As Pedro Almodóvar's first foray into the English language, The Human Voice also marks an interesting first for the director as he centres the entire 30 minute runtime around a single performer. But don't worry, you still get all the Almodóvar hallmarks that you either love or loathe; Female-centred storytelling? Check! The colour red? Check! Ample melodrama? Double check!
The one-way conversation that makes up the majority of the short admittedly reaches levels of flamboyance that border on excessive even for the famous Spaniard, and with only a single player, Almodóvar doesn't exactly get to implement the twisty storytelling of which he's grown so fond over the years. But it's very clear that he and Tilda Swinton are fully aware…
Review by Denwix ★★★

The Human Voice is a story told simply without providing much context or plot, in which it begins to unfold during a telephone conversation. This is where Tilda Swinton demonstrates that innate acting talent with a wide range of emotions that perfectly encapsulate our character's crisis. In the course of 30 minutes (it's a short film) Swinton takes control of her and gives us an uncomfortable experience but attentive to the development of her mood and affection.
Pedro Almodovar's direction is simple and detailed that does not require extensive or complex shots, however, his direction can be seen in the direction of Swinton. Which is evident in the length of the film.
An impressive detail of this film is that…
Review by Gustavo Araujo ★★★★

deixe queimar para esquecer?
Review by luk ★★★★★

impeccable and inspiring, incredible outfits with a wonderful performances by Tilda