Review of Bad Education (2004) by Larry J — 19 Jun 2010

WOW! What a movie!

You can watch this film one of two ways: just dive right in, letting the film progress without connecting the dots until the film is over, OR being the analyst: "Almodovar is a magnificent director. Did I understand that point correctly?" and replay the scene on the DVD. Either way should result in an enjoyable cinematic experience.

The film is a heavy Spanish film noir centering on the early 1980s. Many think Almodovar was heavy into autobiographical material; but he stated that he hadn't been abused by any Catholic priests as a boy. He didn't have a romantic relationship with any of his schoolmates.

An understanding of "The Madrid movement" or "Movida" is at the core of the film. Movida is the period of time after the death of General Francisco Franco. There was a tremendous explosion of artistic and cultural achievements in Spain. Almodovar is credited as being one of the leaders. For those of Spanish background, major political angles may be recognized in the film.

"Bad Education" (La Mala educacion) opened the 57th Cannes Film Festival in 2004. A Spanish film has never been honored with this position. It may seem like a love story between two young boys and the Catholic priest who lusts for one of them. However, it is an excellent portrayal of power dynamics and the various positional roles all of us play.

Roger Ebert sums up this point by stating, "I think it's really more about erotic role-playing: About the roles we play, the roles other people play, and the roles we imagine them playing and they imagine us playing. If Almodovar is right, some of our most exciting sexual experiences take place entirely within the minds of other people.".

Film lovers will appreciate the amount of work Pedro Almodovar put into the writing and production of "Bad Education". He pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock by introducing the film with a fantastic musical score by Alberto Iglesias.

There are three major story lines developed in "Bad Education". These can be determined by the role Gael Garcia Bernal plays: an actor presenting a story known as "The Visit" to director Enrique Goded (Fele Martinez) who decides to direct it; playing a transvestite known as Zahara in the story; and playing Sr. Berenguer's object of desire. This may sound confusing. It can be unless you remember; no one "may" actually be who they present themselves to be!

Almodovar makes several central points the audience should leave with:

The most obvious stems from the title and poster art. Sexual abuse by priests results in a tragic chain reaction on a victim's future. More than anything, the act of betrayal, once realized, can result in a loss of faith and belief. The total loss of trust in a teacher is such bad education it could have the paradoxical result of freeing one from fear. Freedom from fear can enable a person to achieve heights no one else can attain. Finally, first love may be the only true love.

Every aspect of the acting is well done. Gael Garcia Bernal has to be singled out for special praise by tackling 3 different roles. Each exceptionally well done. Enrique is also paralleled in 3 different ways. Almodovar chooses to have three different actors represent his roles as schoolboy, drunken "trick", and successful director.

There was the scent of scandal during its US release. It came when revelations of pedophilic priests and the cover-up of their abuse began shaking the foundations of U.S. Catholicism. For Almodovar aficionados, there are many of his typical sexual flourishes. My favorite erotic scene is a lengthy swimming pool sequence. Bernal is in wet, clinging, transparent white briefs. Sexually he sizzles but becomes too emotionally calculating and manipulative. I'm sure this is the response Almodovar desired. Just thinking about the scene gets me excited.

First love IS true love...