The Skin I Live In Blu-ray Review

• 16th Dec 2011

I am not a fan of Pedro Almodovar. I say that with pride.  I have to be honest and relent that I have only seen perhaps the films he released from the late 80’s to mid 90’s, But there was enough cross-over of themes, food, family breakdown and sexual weirdness (read as sexual identity, crossing with homosexuality, crossed with obsession) to know that he really is not my cup of tea.

Beyo9nd his persistent themes there is also the barrier between worlds of even British Cinema (never mind Hollywood) and Spanish cinema. They don’t have much of a budget to work with, and for the moist part seem only interested in yakking away whilst exploring food and sex (often in the same scenes). This type of realism doesn’t tap too well into my own personal world as I am no lover of food, and questioned and resolved my own sexual identity at a reasonable age. As for real life – I’ve always been a fan of that when opening my front door, not walking into the cinema.

Now that I have my Almodovar prejudices out there and upfront, I’d like to say that the Skin I Live In is without question the first of his films I have enjoyed, and therefore the best one to date. Just to confuse you further I will also say that many of his usual themes are all correct and present in this film. But there is the added ingredient of horror and science-fiction. This is essentially Almodovar’s Frankenstein. Or perhaps how that book may have turned out if it were written in modern day and set in Spain.

His narrative web may start on a linear, yet still confusing path, and it is only when he breaks down this linear wall that it begins to slowly come together and make sense. Much like the characters therein – they begin a certain way, and only through being messed with physically and mentally do they begin to make any sense for themselves.

Antonio Banderas (and early Almodovar favourite) plays our mad doctor who has kidnapped someone (Elena Anaya) to experiment on as he tries to create newly developed skin that is impervious to flame.  Turns out our good doctor has a few issues with his past as you may suspect, and as details unfold you get to see this sanitised home he lives in stretches further than you initially suspect.

The film is beautifully shot (and looks great on Blu-ray) and finally brings together elements that I have been craving this type of film-maker to do. Make no mistake – I do not want to see a sci-fi film directed by the likes of Michael Bay or Paul WS Anderson, quite frankly because they are no good at it. I do want to see genre film-making from film-makers who usually are not associated with it. Mike Leigh, Ken Loach; and here, Pedro Almodovar prove without doubt that they’re take on the genre – fused with their usual high quality character writing can create something very intriguing. I hope he leaps further next time.

Extras include a few short interview pieces and trailer.

Steven Hurst