English title: Bad Education
Genre: psychological thriller
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Release: 2004
Studio: Warner Sogefilms, El Deseo - Sony Pictures Classics
Rating: NC-17
MBiS score: 8.6/10
A Tale of Mixed Emotions
Just when his inspiration was failing him, movie director Enrique Goded (Fele Martinez) receives a visit from Ignacio Rodriguez (Gael Garcia Bernal), an unemployed actor now calling himself Angel Andrade. Enrique dismisses Ignacio but, upon meeting him again, remembers their friendship and budding love affair sixteen years earlier and accepts to make a film based in part on the sad times they shared at St. John’s College. Unfortunately for Enrique, bringing the project to fruition will be more of a challenge than he expected. With Juan Fernandez (Martin), Alberto Ferreiro (Enrique Serrano), Javier Camara (Paquito), Nacho Perez (young Ignacio), Raul Garcia Forneiro (young Enrique), Daniel Gimenez Cacho (Father Manolo), Petra Martinez, Lluis Homar and Francisco Boira.
When this gem by Pedro Almodovar first came out, I sort of expected a detailed account of Enrique and Ignacio’s difficulties in school but these early-life events do not figure prominently in the overall story. LA MALA EDUCACION is in fact a mind-bending suspense film based on sexual identity. For your viewing pleasure, I must warn you that the movie may seem odd and confusing at first but, later on, a very important event will put everything into perspective and highlight the story’s genuine logic, richness and complexity. Without revealing anything, I may add that Almodovar’s script leaves a few questions unanswered – an appropriate choice for such a mysterious movie – and makes no attempts at humour.
LA MALA EDUCACION is gorgeous to look at with its vivid colours and is played out with even competence by a cast which comprises very few women; Gael Garcia Bernal’s busy turn is especially noteworthy. The movie’s dark and atmospheric mood is reinforced by a music score at once sinister and imbued with emotion.
All in all, this serious, original and troubling entry confirms Almodovar’s status as one of the world’s best directors. If you like jigsaw puzzles, you will enjoy putting this one together. A great pick for movie buffs.
MBiS
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