Pedro Almodòvar
La Mala Educaciòn

THE REVIEW

After "All About My Mother" and "Talk to Her", Almodóvar slightly deviates from his usual style and themes to create a "noir melodrama." Spain, 1960s: Ignacio and Enrique share the experience of a religious boarding school, an experience that profoundly marks them, framing a childhood scarred by abuse, strictness, and the excessive attention shown by the school director, Father Manolo, but also rich with beautiful memories, such as the discovery of a love for cinema and the naive awakening of their sexuality (particularly homosexuality). Years pass, paths divide, but they suddenly reconnect when Ignacio appears at Enrique's door, now an established director, offering him a screenplay based on their childhood at the boarding school. At the end of the preparations, however, Enrique will discover a harsh and painful truth, destined to compromise the relationship with Ignacio...

Many themes are addressed in this film: childhood, the denied play, hidden pedophilia even within clerical institutions, but above all homosexuality, understood not as a divergence but in the opposite sense. Sexuality, however, also presents itself as a dirty act, not innocent at all, of pure physical gratification, with no space for love. I believe that the theme on which the entire film revolves, however, is precisely that "mala educación" of the title, understood as the combination of negative teachings and experiences that not only prevent one from evolving but lead to losing one's own identity, symbolized by the cross-dressing and the continuous change of role (and almost personality) of Ignacio's character.

Almodóvar's direction loses that veil of lightness to venture into a dark, highly dramatic, and nervous style, at times excessive, where nothing is left to the imagination nor to chance (see the choice of colors) but is offered to the viewer in all its rawness and truth. A separate discussion should be held about the cast, which dominates the scene throughout the film's duration; in particular, a great job was done by Gael Garcia Bernal, here divided among three truly complex roles and who proves, after "Amores Perros," "Y tu mama, también," and "The Motorcycle Diaries," to be one of the most promising young actors.

In conclusion, a memorable film, one of the best in recent years, truly capable of delivering emotions. Rating (subjective): 5 stars