Review of Bad Education (2004) by Stephen M — 26 Sep 2010

Pedro Almodovar creates Spanish-language films that are actually supposed to confuse and intrigue his audiences. Bad Education, filmed in 2004, is one of his most fascinating; it?s sexy and daring and ridiculously complex. As an added bonus, it thoroughly explores the inestimable sex appeal of Gael Garcia Bernal.

A famous gay film director (Martinez) is visited by an old school chum (Garcia Bernal) after several decades? separation. When they were parochial school boys, the two discovered their burgeoning homosexuality with each other. When they were found out by a local priest, the Father blackmailed them and forced Garcia Bernal into sex with him. Nearly twenty years later, Garcia Bernal has written a film script based on that true story, and he wants Martinez to produce it. And Garcia Bernal also wants to play the lead?a drag queen who later confronts the pedophilic priest.

That?s the simple part of the plot. It gets messy from there.

Almodovar always fills his films with unique art direction, melodramatic bravado and weird sexual tension. In this fantastical script, as the two childhood lovers dance around each other?s attractions and desires, Martinez suspects his long lost school buddy?s touching story might be a complicated lie. But even with themes of pedophilia and extortion, it?s still pure escapist joy to wallow in Almodovar?s romantic conflicts and purposefully overwrought plot.