Review of The Skin I Live In (2011) by Jillian L — 30 Jun 2013

Though it doesn't quite pack the punch of All About My Mother, Volver or Talk to Her, this is a great installment in Almodovar's career. Analysis of gender, identity, appearances (both physical and situational), sexuality and homosexuality have been a staple in his filmography but this movie goes one step further and calls back to his much older films like Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! and Law of Desire.

As a standalone movie it's quite inventive and thoughtful but it doesn't provoke as emotional a reaction as his dramas. Then again, it's never fair to compare movies of different styles and genres, even within a given director's work.

I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of somebody who isn't familiar with any of his previous work and doesn't know the context of his career, his orientation or the historical significance of his bold approach.