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From Amazon.co.uk
Writer/director Pedro Almodóvar's dark, sexy Hitchcock homage is his best work since his Oscar-winning All About My Mother, and deepened by a sun-dappled sadness. Handsome, enigmatic Ángel (Gael García Bernal) arrives at the Spanish movie offices of director Enrique Goded (Fele Martinez) and happily proclaims that he's actually Enrique's long-lost school chum Ignacio--an announcement that is both less than convincing and more than it seems. A novice actor, Ángel pitches a semi-autobiographical screenplay in which he's determined to star, a revenge-laden reflection of the doomed love he and Enrique shared as boys before a paedophile priest cruelly intervened. The script, and the lost days it recalls, carefully unfurls into a series of brooding movies-within-movies and memories-inside-memories, which allow the sensual, multiple-role-playing Bernal to give the performance of his young career--among other things, he makes a stunningly convincing drag queen--and Almodóvar the opportunity to suggest, movingly, that people will pay any price to ensure that their stories are told. -- Steve Wiecking
Product Description
Academy Award winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar takes a look at his own adolescence as well as confronting the issue of sexual misconduct in the Catholic Church in this stylish thriller, which was chosen to open the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
Bad Education narrates the reunion of two young men in early 80s Madrid, as the city starts to breathe a new air of freedom. Fifteen years earlier, in the darkness of a Catholic school, the two young men had discovered sensuality and a common hatred of the priests from whom they received their ‘bad education’.
Now, in the new and liberated Madrid, both men – a film-maker and an aspiring actor – revisit their early years together. As they try to uncover the truth about themselves, each other and the other characters in their story, they realise that things and people are not as they first seem.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By I Am Tyler Durden
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
This is a supurb film with a clever twisting plot. It centres on a semi autobiographical story written by one of the characters which is being made into a movie. As the film progresses it plays out as two parallel stories, one being the fictionalised version of events, the other being the actual events. It's quite a touching story revolving around 2 boys who fall in love at school while trying to avoid the molestations of an abusive priest/teacher, and then what happens to them in later life. It involves love, betrayal, blackmail and murder. Brilliant.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For me, this is the best Almodóvar film to date. The plot is complex but comes together by the end of the film and is gripping throughout (I won't go into the plot as the synopsis and other reviews can be viewed on this site). The performances from all the main characters (particularly Gael García Bernal) are stunning and the film takes the viewer through a gamut of emotions, from hilarity through poignancy and spine-chilling suspense. The film score needs to be acknowledged too: it is one of the best I've heard - somehow the composer, Alberto Iglesias, manages to fuse a Bernard Hermann (composer of much film music including 'Psycho' and 'Taxi Driver') style along with early nineteenth century ecclesiastic choral music (using a boys chorus). During the film - one of my favourite moments - there is an extract from the Kyrie from Rossini's 'Petite Messe Solennelle' - this moment is electrifying as is the music during the closing credits - don't reach for your coat, stay and listen! Not much more to say except that Almodóvar gets better and better as he matures, and this film is his best yet.
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By Y. Bissett
Format:DVD
I have to admit I am a huge fan of Almodovar. He is known in certain circles as the Woman's Director, but the central relationship here is between two men. I don't want to go into the plot, as it is complicated, contains twists and too many characters that any explanation would spoil it. Suffice it to say, two boys become very close intimate friends in their catholic school and their story unfolds years later within the Spanish film industry. The two leads are excellently cast, especially Gael Garcia Bernal, who looks fabulous in drag.
Purported to be loosely autobiographical, this film tackles some very controversial topics, particularly the abuse of young boys by catholic priests. The film manages to illustrate this subject without being too sexual or explicit. It maintains pace throughout, and never fails to twist itself into knots. To fully follow the flashback/film scenes plot, I recommend watching it twice.
All in all, in my opinion, not as good as "Talk to Her", and probably not as widely appealing as "All About My Mother", but highly watchable for anyone willing to spend a while in Almodovar's world.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This is a beautifully made film, with the dry, dusty landscape reflecting the coarse education and subsequent evolution of the two central characters. Fine performances are put in by Fele Martinez and the current darling of international cinema, the handsome Gael Garcia Bernal, who uses his elegant features to fine effect, spending much of the movie in drag. The film certainly offers up some thought provoking issues on the abuse of power, and some delicately shot scenes suggesting the young love between the two boys. However the middle section possibly concentrates too much on looking good and not enough on advancing what is a strong and engaging plot, which is unravelled rapidly at the end. Overall this is an intriguing, stylish movie which will both tug at the heart and invoke rage simultaneously, however it may be 15 minutes too long.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Daring to say this might be one of his best works. As usual almodovar keeps you enthralled, intrigued, laughing and in suspense to the last moment, and the lead Gael Bernal Garcia delivers a fantastic performance, the perfect choice for the role...
This is a must have for any avid almodovar fan or a good introduction to his work, it will get you addicted to almodovar in no time and you'll never go back.... again a fantastic piece of cinema...
This is a must have for any avid almodovar fan or a good introduction to his work, it will get you addicted to almodovar in no time and you'll never go back.... again a fantastic piece of cinema...
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'll start by saying I'm a Catholic! So, I hated the movie! Right? Wrong! Loved it. As usual a perfect script. A bit even more serious this time. Perfect casting! Gael is great, but for me, Paquita (Javier Cámara), is Oscar stuff! HE'S PERFECT! And the Andalusian accent is a plus! Catholicism is not on trial! People are. Priests that are not perfect (to say the least) are! And a film noir like we hadn't seen in decades. A film, inside a film, inside a story! Just GREAT! Muy bien, Pedro, y hasta la próxima película!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Anita
Format:DVD
Gael Garcia Bernal is amazing, the story is told in flashback, and present day. You never quite know what parts of the film are happening, and wich parts are being acted by the characters, who are making a film in the movie. - CONFUSED?- well i was, but my confusion just added to experence. All the performances are great, the characters engaging, and the story both lovely, and disterbing.
If your a fan of the director, or the star you wont be disapointed.
If your a fan of the director, or the star you wont be disapointed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The thought of watching a flick about a paedophile priest abusing young boys isn't my idea of entertainment, but watching another excellent performance from Gael Garcia Bernal was enough to overlook this abhorrent premise. Thankfully, Pedro Almodovar's immaculate and tasteful direction transforms the unpleasant subject matter into a gripping thriller that twists and turns in the most satisfying way imaginable. He draws out superb performances from all the cast but Bernal's multi-layered, cross dressing performance steals the show and, ultimately, highlights exactly why he's considered an immense talent and a heart-throb. Another impressive aspect to this outstanding flick is the way Almodovar morphs past events with the present and glides in and out of the movie within a movie but never leaves the viewer feeling confused, just utterly enthralled. This is all rounded off with a satisfying conclusion that leaves the viewer wondering just how much was based on the directors life? Bad Education has been stylishly shot with vibrant colours and is definitely the type of flick that can be watched more than once - highly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Almodovar DVD's
This box set of Almodovar DVD's is a truly wonderful collection of some of the director's films.
If you are considering buying this collection then you are possibly... Read more
If you are considering buying this collection then you are possibly... Read more
Published 2 months ago by andy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gael García Bernal at his very best.
Gael García Bernal at his very best.
If you have not watched it before I suggest not read the plot. Perfectly structured, engaging. Read more
If you have not watched it before I suggest not read the plot. Perfectly structured, engaging. Read more
Published 2 months ago by MV
5.0 out of 5 stars
Almodovar is just..a genius!
As a Spanish teacher I share this film, among others, with my students (be aware of the age restriction). However, it should have Spanish subtitles... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Arriaga
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very moved by this film.
I don't want my review to be filled with spoilers, but as a gay man i found this film to be very moving. A film of love, tragedy, and wit. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. N. R. Partridge
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never a dull moment
As long as you're not shocked by men engaging in fairly explicit homosexual acts this is a film to be enjoyed for its clever use of parallel stories that keep you gripped, great... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Bluebell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review for Almodovar's collection
I had an issue with one of the DVDs as it was scratched, however I received a full refund for all of the discs. Much appreciated! Thank you!
Published on 25 Feb 2011 by Jozefina
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good start for your film collection
If you are interested in film, this is a nice selection of master Almodovar's films.
Published on 1 Sep 2010 by Viv
4.0 out of 5 stars
Complex mystery and morality
Fascinatingly complex nourish mystery. A film-maker is reunited with a boyhood lover, who wants to tell a dark story from their Catholic school days. But is the story true? Read more
Published on 29 July 2010 by K. Gordon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shocking ... and maybe a little bit overdone!
I found the movie by accident between documentaries about animals, religion and life in Africa. Because of the current discussions about sexual abuse within the catholic church I... Read more
Published on 8 July 2010 by Zauberlehrling!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good collection
This box set has most of my favourites and makes up a good pick of Almodovar's greatests films
Published on 17 May 2010 by Ms. S. A. Fleming
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