Release Date: 27 January 2005

Synopsis :

Two kids, Ignacio and Enrique, discover love, cinema and fear in a religious school at the start of the 60s. Father Manolo, the school principal and their literature teacher, is witness to and part of these discoveries.

The three characters meet twice again, at the end of the 70s and in the 80s. The re-encounter will mark the life and death of some of them.

Movie Review:

Bad Education begins with the meeting of two old friends who were separated during their early school days by their literature teacher. One had become a well-known successful director in Spain and another is still a small time stage actor searching and trying to create his big break.

From the initial disgust with what his friend had degenerated to become, the director was slowly drawn to what the actor had to offer to him, a script, and a reminiscence of a past romance. But as the movie proceeds on, the director unravels more of the hidden pasts and secrets from the actor. Nothing is what it seems to be.

The twist and turn, back and forth manner of telling the story using a movie production within a movie was subtle and yet effective in delivering the story of how sometimes art imitates life and vice versa.

But this film has more to offer. In its softly subtle manner, this film actually compares and contrast true love that has gone through a period of time. Characters in the film proclaim true love to one another but as time passes by, some of their perspectives change and some remains the same.

Director Pedro Almodovar had craftily merged a drama story with a case of suspenseful thriller on whodunit; painting bright colors in a film noir and somehow making it work. His selection of cast was top notch too. GAEL Garcia Bernal (from Motorcycles and Y Tu Mama Tambien) brings sizzles into his drag queen performance and the actor who would do anything to perform big time. Fele Martinez is another one to watch as the director whose life is unexpectedly affected by the reappearance of his first lover.

This film is definitely not for Singaporeans with homophobia but if you are able to stomach it and let the gay ambience fade into the background, you will find an excellent moody thriller inter-laced with tragic drama

Movie Rating: B-


Review by our columnist Richard Lim Jr