Pedro Almodóvar’s
latest opus, Mala educación (Bad Education), the
legendary writer/director’s talents are on full display.
This film is a deliciously noir mix of intrigue, betrayal, lust,
religion, jealously, hate and love, set against the backdrop of
Franconian Spain. The creator of such classics as All About
My Mother, Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down and Talk To Her, adds one
more to his growing legacy.
The
film centers on the sexual abuse the film’s main character,
a young boy named Inacio, suffers at the hands the very flawed
Father Monolo, who just can’t seem to keep his hands off
the helpless boy. In a very dramatic encounter, Father Monolo
encounters Ignacio and his fellow preteen homosexual lover, Enrique,
having a very late night rendezvous in the boy’s bathroom.
Understandably, Father Monolo is upset with Ignacio’s choice
for a partner, considering it’s not him. He threatens to
expel Enrique if Ignacio doesn’t do him a few favors. Ignacio
obliges, of course, but Father Monolo expels Enrique anyway, so
he can have little Ignacio all to himself.
Ignacio’s
world is shattered. Enrique’s departure combined with Father
Monolo’s tyrannical sexing gives us the eerie sense that
he will grow up to be a totally dysfunctional drag queen determined
to make it in the movie business.
And
that’s exactly what happens!
Gael
Garcia Bernal’s portrayal of adult Ignacio is a triumph.
There aren’t many actors who can be that nefariously gay
and still command the sympathy of the audience. Maybe, Kevin Spacey,
but that’s it.
Ignacio
tracks down Enrique, who has grown to be a successful gay movie
director and suggest they make a really gay movie about their
childhood, with the treacherously gay Father Monolo being portrayed
as the villain who ruined their love and, consequently, their
childhoods.
Please
go see this film. It’s gay and it’s good. It’s
not as good and gay as All About My Mother, but it’s
still a magnificent effort.
