Review: The Skin I Live In

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The Skin I Live In still photo

Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar is internationally known for his darkly humorous and often perverse explorations into gender and sexuality, but even more so about relationships between women and the men who love (while still often hating) them. His latest film, The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito), is no different in its general themes, but is the most stylized and visually and emotionally impacting of all his movies. Based on the novel Tarantula by Thierry Jonquet, The Skin I Live In effectively blends so many genres -- thriller, erotica, drama, horror and sci-fi -- that it will hopefully appeal to a wide audience.

Secured in his operating lab at his isolated home El Cigarral, plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas) has made a breakthrough in his research to improve methods of repairing disfigurement of burn victims. Through transgenesis -- the process of introducing an exogenous gene, from a hog in this case -- Dr. Ledgard has created an extremely resilient skin that can be grafted onto damaged tissue. However, colleagues and superiors are horrified, proclaiming his research as a violation of their bioethics. They prefer the less controversial practice of using El Cigarral's operating room for transgender operations from well-paying clients who require discretion. 

Dr. Ledgard isn't prepared to welcome his colleagues into his home, however, as he has a private patient locked in the premises. A young woman known as Vera (Elena Anaya) spends her days in solitude, reading and creating figures out of torn scraps of fabric, watched over by Dr. Ledgard's fiercely loyal housekeeper, Marilia (Marisa Paredes). When Marilia's brutish criminal son Zeca (Robert Alamo) arrives, demanding his mother hide him from law enforcement, violence explodes the idyllic calm and exposes the true horrors hidden within. No one is safe from the madness and destruction, including Ledgard's daughter Norma (Bianca Suarez) and her suitor Vicente (Jan Cornet).

The Skin I Live In reunites director Almodovar with several of his actors from past works, most notably Antonio Banderas in his fifth film with Almodovar, nearly 30 years since Labyrinth of Passion. Banderas turns in what I believe to be his best performance ever, an understated portrayal of a mad scientist whose obsession and vengeance reach a point where even Mary Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein might say, "Enough"! Marisa Paredes (All About My Mother) plays Marilia as a true Almodovar woman -- fierce and independent. However, Elena Anaya (Talk To Her, Point Blank) deserves the most praise for her performance, combining the best of both her co-stars. Without revealing any spoilers, suffice to say that Anaya meets the challenges put forth in her complex characterizations.

It's quite easy to understand why this movie has been nominated for its production design and composer in the upcoming European Film Awards. The score by frequent Almodovar collaborator and composer Alberto Iglesias is both provocative and classic, and the production design by Antxon Gomez -- especially of El Cigarral -- matched with costume design and wardrobe by international fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier is astounding. The colors and hues of the film stand out whether it's in the minimalistic shots of surgeons preparing to conduct surgery or the absurdity of Zeca's Carnival tiger costume -- pay special attention to his tiger's tail!

The Skin I Live In reinforces the widely accepted belief that Almodovar's strongest theme is that of female-driven tragedy -- in addition to titles already noted, be sure to watch Talk To Her -- and female identity. Again, without spoiling the experience Almodovar far exceeds past works with The Skin I Live In. I guarantee that if you enjoy this film the first time, you'll enjoy a second viewing even more. I will be watching it for a third time just so that I can enjoy the Spanish wine and tapas menu at Alamo for the full experience.

In honor of this new Almodovar movie, anyone who buys advance tickets to an opening weekend (11/11 – 11/13) screening of The Skin I Live In will also receive free admission to any screening of Bad Education at Alamo South Lamar this week.