Life is the ultimate work of art

The stunning city of Barcelona is the setting for the romantic adventures of two young American women, Vicky and Cristina. On a summer idyll in Spain, Vicky (Rebecca Hall: Frost/Nixon), who is bright, sceptical and cautious, is doing graduate work in Catalan identity and taking a breather before her imminent marriage. Her friend Cristina (Scarlett Johansson: Lost In Translation) is far fruits of life.

At an art opening that the two young women attend along with their host for the summer (played by Patricia Clarkson: Good Night and Good Luck), Cristina spies the celebrated and gorgeous painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem: No Country For Old Men). She is immediately captivated, and even more so when she learns of his divorce from the tempestuous fellow artist, Maria Elena (Pen?lope Cruz: Volver). Later in the evening, Juan Antonio boldly invites Cristina and Vicky on a weekend jaunt to picturesque Oviedo to see the sights, drink good wine and make love. Vicky finds his proposal outrageous, but Cristina is enchanted by his directness and charisma, and persuades Vicky to accompany her. Thus begins a complex succession of love affairs and subterfuges that play out calmly if somewhat tragically until Maria Elena forces her way back into Juan Antonio's life and, ultimately, into the lives of Vicky and Cristina.

With Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, Match Point) has created a funny and wise meditation on love, in all its romance, exhilaration, yearning, heartache and elusive mystery.

PEN?LOPE CRUZ ? WINNER BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS ? 2009 ACADEMY AWARDS