Patty Diphusa and Other Writings

These irresistibly funny pieces about ``the golden age of Madrid pop, punk, comics and general frivolity'' were written during the 1980s, when Almodovar ( Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! ) came of age as a filmmaker. Inspired in part by Andy Warhol's films, the title story features the adventures of a spunky porn star. The eponymous Patty, a self-absorbed young woman devoted to pleasure and in search of fame, breezes through the Madrid underground, unfazed by rape, drugs and encounters with men and women of all sexual persuasions. Patty's innocence--and Almodovar's considerable talent--makes these often tasteless scenes funny. The irrepressible author can't resist inserting himself as a character in the section entitled ``Filler,'' which contains some short sketches, a discussion about the importance of Madrid in his films, a self-interview and tongue-in-cheek predictions for the '90s. His charming autobiographical essay, ``Advice on How to Become an Internationally Famous Filmmaker,'' recounts the steps he took to find his avocation. Almodovar's quick wit, affable writing style and refusal to take himself and the film community seriously infuse this collection with originality. (July)