Review of Matador (1986) by Repping H — 11 Dec 2003

The film opens with a man, who we later find out is a former matador, apparently masturbating to images of women being mutilated. next: him teaching a class, detailing how one kills a bull. intercut are images of a woman leading a man back to her room, and while riding him, killing him with a hairpin. later, the retired matador, when talking to his younger pupil, Antonio Banderas, likens the pursuit of a woman to the killing of the bull. a note of which I didn't know was as revealing, in regards to the nature of this character and future actions, as it was. I credit this to the fact that I hadn't seen the movie yet.

Antonio finds himself in jail, or rather puts himself there. his case is taken by Assumpta Serna (she kinda looks like Anouk's older sister in [b]8 1/2[/b], but my mind could be playing tricks on me there), who we find out is taking the case to get closer to his instructor. what follows is a courtship/pursuit where the two (the defense attorney and the matador) alternate between the roles of fighter and bull almost interchangeably attempting to figure each other out and their relationship with the other.

I feel like I'd have a better grasp of what Almodovar were trying to say here if I had a clearer understanding of the social context. the connection between bullfighting and sex is made [i]very clear[/i], but I'm wondering about his attitudes on the sport and how this film reflects them. in order to be a matador, must one be deranged? get off on killing? essentially, is Almodovar anti-bullfighting? his frankness on the subject of sexuality leads me to believe that he may very well not be. that is to say that the drive to kill, in his mind, is as natural as lust and something that man has no business trying to suppress.

Of course, I [i]am[/i] insane.

Getting back to understanding of the social context, I'm also curious about Antonio's mother. the character seems almost Bunuelian in it's reproaching of all things logical in favor of all things spiritual. I'd be interested to know how close Spain in 1986 was to the Spain that kept kicking Luis Bunuel out of the country.

Pedro Almodovar.

1. [b]Talk To Her[/b].

[i]2. [b]Matador[/b][/i].

3. [b]All About My Mother[/b].