A Manual for Cleaning Women, produced by and starring one of the world’s most recognizable actresses, Australia’s Cate Blanchett, is the feature film the 72-year-old La Mancha-born filmmaker said he could not finish.

‘It has been a very painful decision for me. I have dreamed of working with Cate Blanchett for a long time (…) I was blinded by emotion but unfortunately I don’t feel entirely capable of making this film,’ he declared, with no word so far on who his replacement will be.

Dirty Films, Blanchett’s production company, has not yet made any statement on the matter. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Lucia Berlin, Manual for Cleaning Women was one of Almodovar’s important projects.

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