Background:
While the attention of the whole world has been diverted this year at Cannes by Ms Rai and two other beautiful ladies, my interest has centered more over the film that’s kicked off the festival, Pedro Almodovar’s Bad Education. My first encounter with Almodovar was in Pune in 1999 when as part of a film appreciation course, I saw two of his movies Matador and Atame. Needless to say, I was totally overawed by this stylish Spanish director.
’’I was born in a bad time for Spain, but a really good one for cinema.’’ - Pedro Almodovar.
Born in 1951 in Rural Spain, Almodovar migrated with his family at the age of 8 to Extremadura. Rebelling from religion, Almodovar became interested in movies and started visiting cinema halls almost compulsively. Soon he debuted as a writer cum director in 1975 before hitting it big with . Pepi, Luci, Bom. in 1980. From then on, its been a successful journey throughout with critically acclaimed movies like . Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, Atame, Kika, La Flor de mi secreto and more recently Todo sobre mi madre.. Almodovar revels in exploring the most fundamental of all themes: love, lust and violence. Most of his stories explore complex relationships between very strong pivotal characters set against the background of the Spanish cultural and political revolution.
The movie:
Carne Tremula (or Live Flesh as it has been subtitled in English), based on a Ruth Rendell book, marks the coming of age of a director famed for his wild, over the top yet frightfully candid caricatures of society. In this movie, Almodovar reins himself in and presents a complex yet striking story of 5 people caught in a web of interlinked relationships.
The first few frames narrate the incidents preceding the birth of Victor on a bus in the streets of Madrid in 1950. Cut to 20 years later, the setting is a lonely night in Madrid and Victor is on his way to a date with Elena, the daughter of an Italian diplomat. Unfortunately Elena is a drug addict and cant remember Victor from their last wild night. She tries to throw him out of her apartment even as the violent Victor threatens her with a shotgun. Two cops - Sancho, a chronic drunk who perennially suspects his wife Clara of infidelity and his friend/partner David patrolling the streets that night barge in to investigate a reported shot and in the ensuing melee, a shot is fired. This freak incident has ramifications in the lives of all the five players and how circumstances play with the lives of these principal characters forms the rest of the story. To give away anything more would be gross injustice to this classy movie.
The analysis:
If one were to slot this movie into a genre then it would be virtually impossible to do it. Its a thriller with liberal doses of raw violence, rough edged romance and supposedly grimy eroticism thrown in. It is also an intense human drama in the sense that emotions and their unpredictability form the basis for the compelling narrative.
The movie can be analyzed at various planes. The movie starts and ends with a birth but the circumstances are diametrically opposite. The movie leaves powerful comments on the politics of the country. 1970 is characterized by the nation heavily under the grip of the oppressive Franco regime with citizens rights being suspended while in 1997 Spain is shown in all its glory. The film also voices strong opinions on morality - the way Almodovar treats issues like sin, guilt and redemption is sure to spark off a million arguments. Question marks are also raised about fidelity and true love being the cornerstones of a successful relationship.
The winners:
As far as the technical team is concerned, the music is in a league of its own. The songs, though in Spanish, are worded beautifully and fit the mood. The background score is mesmerizing. Well done, Alberto Iglesias. Cinematography by Affonso Beatto is one of the finest I have ever seen (IMHO, second only to the incomparable Janusz Kamisnki) - watch out for the first few shots of the streets of Madrid and the erotic love making scenes. Special mention must also be made of the really competent Jose Salcedo who is in fine form with his razor sharp editing. Screenplay and direction by Pedro Almodovar is first rate.
The powerful script is undoubtedly aided by some very competent acting. Francesca Neri as Elena shows great understanding of the role of a woman torn between guilt and passion. Angela Molina as Clara is adequate in the role of a woman wanting to break away. Jose Sancho is brilliant as the pained cop Sancho desperately trying to straighten his life while Javier Bardem as the unfortunate David manages to evoke sympathy from the audience. But the real star of the show is Liberto Rabal playing the vengeful Victor. The cameo by Penelope Cruz almost goes unnoticed.
Summing up, for me Carne Tremula is not in the same league as Atame but its still leagues ahead of the ’’classics’’ being churned out of Hollywood. The movie might not find favor with all audiences but is a must for all Almodovar fans.
Warning: Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some drug content.
Credits:
http://www.clubcultura.com/clubcine/clubcineastas/ almodovar/eng/homeeng.htm
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000264/