The film begins with two people in a theatre, and ends in the same way. Marco’s journey is one where he is able to begin to express the deep emotions that he is feeling, and most importantly begin to share them with someone who will reciprocate. His journey appears closed at the opening of the picture as we don’t quite know why he cries. And as he goes through Lydia being put into a coma he learns how closed off he was and is to her. Benigno comes into this part of the story in order to assist him in expressing all that he’s had pent up after the loss of his love, Angela. Ironically, Marco is a writer, but what he has written goes nowhere--Almodóvar uses this as a literal metaphor when Marco describes writing travel guides with Angela, but they were really an escape from having to deal with the real issues she was going through--because he isn’t willing to truly open up.
Marco befriends Benigno and though the nurse has done the unspeakable, Marco has the opportunity to do right by him and tell him the truth. But he doesn’t do it. He allows the lawyer to lie to Benigno and tell him that Alicia is dead. This starts in motion Benigno’s decision to commit suicide in order to pay for what he’s done as he holds the responsibility fully on himself. This then leads to Marco being at the same theatre where Benigno saw him cry, but when he sheds tears this time Alicia is there. And their story only just begins as he understands the opportunity before him.
