The Skin I'm In

[garth cartwright]

I go and see every Almodovar film. I don't always come out of the cinema feeling like I enjoyed the experience but he's about the only director currently working I'm compelled to see. His last couple of films - Volver, Broken Embraces - have been excellent, fabulous melodramas about strong women and their immediate relationships. The Skin I'm In finds A focusing on men and like Bad Education - the last time he did this - it's very disturbing. Extremely disturbing, actually, veering as it does into territory that has proved popular in the torture porn genre of recent.

Antonio Banderas gives a fine performance as a plastic surgeon who is criminally insane. Not seen Antonio for a good while and he has aged well - looks like an evil Cary Grant. The supporting cast are also excellent with several women giving fine performances - I can't think of another director working who gets women to be so expressive, often in quite unpleasant circumstances, and gives them such intelligence and subtle grace under pressure.

As ever this is a beautiful film to look at - the surfaces, the colours, the framing of the shots. But it is very disturbing. Not one to go on as a date. And not one for anyone with a weak stomach. I left the cinema feeling both drained and queasy. But it's Almodovar so no surprise. And, yes, I'll go and see his next film too.

[NormanD]

Have you ever seen a French film called "Les Yeux Sans Visage"? I saw it at a film club 40+ years ago, and it still freaks me out - one particularly disturbing scene in particular. It never seems to crop up anywhere, not surprisingly, and perhaps thankfully. I mention this because it seems to have a similar focus.....

[Adam Blake]

What about "The Last Woman"? One of Gerard Depardieu's early films. NOT one you'll forget in a hurry.

Perhaps we need a new thread - Films that shocked you. OK, I'm on it.

[john poole]

I saw "Eyes Without a Face" at The Electric Cinema in Birmingham some time in the 90s - I've read that it was an influence on the novel on which "The Skin I Live In" was based.

As an admirer of Almodovar I have to say that I found his latest film to be something of a disappointment - certainly of interest and worth seeing; but to a large extent lacking the usual humour and characters that I cared about. I didn't feel drained or queasy. His very best work was in the 80s & 90s I think, "All About My Mother" being my favourite of his films.

[garth cartwright]

Ah, you have a stronger stomach than me, John!

I agree: not one of his best works. That said my fave A films are Talk To Her, Volver and Broken Embraces. I like a lot of the 80s and 90s films but find those 3 all linger more in my memory. Of course, that a certain PCruz starred in the latter two helps.