Bad Education / Great Movie
Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 12:26AM by Nathaniel R
Gael García Bernal as "Juan & Ignacio & Angel & Zahara" simultaneously.
Heads up that I had the beautiful opportunity to talk Pedro Almodóvar as the guest on this week's Water Cooler podcast over at Awards Daily. It was a true pleasure to revisit his twisty provocative melodrama Bad Education (2004). Almodóvar movies nearly always improve on revisits (and they're great the first time so that's quite a feat). My theory is that it's because they're often so novelistic and twisty with plot and layered with meaning. That's true of this trans noir in particular as it's a movie (period drama - but are they flashbacks or the fictional movie?) within a movie (scripted/filming) within a movie. Multiple actors play the same roles... only not exactly. The head spins. The pulse races (Gael García Bernal looks ...um... good... in wet underwear) Longtime readers may recall that Bernal was nominated at TFE for Best Actor that year. He's playing multiple characters in a way that's both intentionally performative and cleverly obfuscated. It's a pretty remarkable star turn and it's tragic that Pedro and Gael never worked together again! Give it a listen.
Reader Comments (14)
I heard they did NOT get along, which is sad. They could have been the Spanish cinema version of Leo and Marty in the aughts, just like Almodovar and Banderas were the Marty and Bob DeNiro of the 1980s.
Seeing the above image before the headline and other surrounding text, I thought to myself, "Juliette Lewis looks... different."
Sadly, Pedro and Gael did not get along well.
I love this movie - probably my favorite Almodovar (although that last one ...). The levels in it, the noir of it, Gael - it's fantastic.
Almodóvar has a record of feuds with actors. Lluis Homar, who plays the non fiction version of Father Manolo, told the press that he had a very difficult time innthe Broken Embraces set and he coukd never work with Almodóvar again. Homar, Carmen Maura, Gael, Banderas... Not that he is a Lars von Trier type, but his relationship actors is not always smooth.
Also Yolanda Ramos (Volver)
Sad that Gael and Almodovar only did one film. Maybe it was personality clashes.
Are there any interviews or articles that confirm those supposedly bad relationships between Almodovar and his actors? I wouldn't be surprised if the reason was inappropriate behavior. I was once at a private function Almodovar was attending and he has two teenage-looking toys alongside him.
Absolutely not.
2nd Oscar nom robbed to Javier Cámara, by the way. Steals every moment he is in the film, effortlessly.. the other one, obviously, Talk to Her
Peggy Sue: We got it girl, we got it.
My favorite paper I ever wrote in college (well, second favorite after a scene analysis of THAT Birth scene) was an analysis of Bad Education as "Almodóvar noir". My Film Studies professor fell in love with it, and I re-read it every once in a while, just to continue letting my love for this master genius thrive.
And the balls he had on this one. Sigh. Forever Almodóvar.
@curio
Here is an interview with Carmen Maura where she talks a little about it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmJzpYAvo1g
I love this film - most likely my number one Almodovar (albeit that last one ...). The levels in it, the noir of it, Gael - it's awesome.