Beginning Friday, Pedro Almodovar, the campy, iconoclastic Spanish director, gets an eight-week, eight-film retrospective at two South Florida theaters.

The series sees the theatrical re-release of Almodovar's early works, including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Law of Desire and Matador, as a lead-in to his 16th and latest film, Volver, which stars Penelope Cruz and will open the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival on Oct. 20.

Almodovar is considered the most influential filmmaker in contemporary Spain. Volver, which reaped praise at this year's Cannes Film Festival, is said to be one of the director's finest in his 20-year career.

The retrospective, dubbed "Viva Pedro" and utilizing brand-new prints, will run for eight consecutive weeks, from Friday through Oct. 12. Several of the titles have not been shown since their original release, and all have been withdrawn from the DVD marketplace to accommodate this theatrical run (two titles -- Matador and Law of Desire -- never have been issued on DVD).

"Almodovar has gained such a fan base and reputation with his last few films that many of his new fans haven't seen his earlier movies," said Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics. "You can compare him to Fellini in the '50s and '60s in terms of an international following. I don't think there's anyone who rivals Almodovar in terms of inventiveness -- it crosses borders and somehow translates to all cultures."

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988): Amid much comedy, a Madrid actress (Carmen Maura) pulls herself together after being dumped by her longtime lover and colleague. Duncan: Sept. 8, 9; Paradiso: Sept. 8, 9, 10.

All About My Mother (1999): The series of calamities that befall a Madrid nurse (Cecilia Roth) becomes a testament to women's indomitable strength in the face of adversity in this foreign-film Oscar winner. Duncan: Sept. 14; Paradiso: Sept. 13.

Talk to Her (2001): Two comatose women -- a beautiful young dancer and a striking bullfighter -- bring together a plump, fussy male nurse and a writer. An exploration of friendship and the power of love at its most paradoxical. Duncan and Paradiso: Sept. 14.

The Flower of My Secret (1996): A romance novelist (Marisa Paredes) realizes she has outgrown her career in the face of a dying marriage. Almodovar celebrates the capacity of women to reach out to others. Duncan: Sept. 21; Paradiso: Sept. 20.

Live Flesh (1998): An effortlessly articulated 1998 tragicomedy, in which Almodovar contemplates the folly of human passion when it collides with fate. A convoluted and volatile contemporary La Ronde, it helped consolidate Javier Bardem as a top male star of his generation. Duncan and Paradiso: Sept. 21.

The Law of Desire (1987): A lurid tale of lust and violence. The central figure is a famous gay film director (Eusebio Poncela) on a break from his lover and from filmmaking. He has a gaudy sister (Maura), a nightclub entertainer, and a handsome 20-year-old (Antonio Banderas) ardently pursuing him. Duncan and Paradiso: Oct. 4.

Bad Education (2004): An actor (Gael Garcia Bernal) approaches a successful young filmmaker (Fele Martinez), reminding him that as adolescents they had been best friends. He has written a script about their experiences and imagined how they had turned out as adults. Martinez commences investigating the actor as the film moves between past and present, reality and illusion. Duncan: Oct. 4; Paradiso: Oct. 5.

Matador (1988): Sex, death and bullfighting. A celebrated torero, sidelined permanently by a goring that has left him lame, has discovered that the only thing that equals the thrill of triumph in the bull ring is sex that ends in murder. Duncan: Oct. 12; Paradiso: Oct. 11, 12.

"Viva Pedro," an eight-film Almodovar retrospective, screens Friday through Oct. 12 at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale (954-525-3456) and Duncan Theatre, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth (561-868-3948).

Tickets for Cinema Paradiso are $8 for general admission, $7 for seniors/students and $5 for FLIFF members. Tickets for the Duncan Theatre are $7.50 for general admission and $5 for students and film society members. Tickets for the opening night FLIFF film Volver, at the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale, are $10; $35 includes film and fiesta party that follows. A Viva Pedro Fast Pass is $80 for nonmembers and $50 for FLIFF members. For tickets, memberships, passes and film schedule, call 954-525-3456 or visit www.FLIFF.com.

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