Mala educacion, La [Bad Education]

(c) A.J. Malouin 2008

(Rating: 9 by Al.)
Spanish writer/director Pedro Almodovar is at it again! Here’s dark and twisted fun as Pedro Almodovar marches into the thriller genre. Not as good as his “Talk to Her” or “Women on the Verge…,” “Bad Education” is nevertheless brilliant and worth seeing. Gael Barcia Bernal gives wonderful performances as three different “characters.” The plot is *almost* too convoluted to follow but Almodovar’s rich film noir makes the attempt worthwhile. Doughnut see it, however, if you are likely to be put off by the topic of schoolboy homosexuality.

Growing up under the post-Franco religious schooling of an interesting time in the interesting country of Spain, two schoolboys discover a love of movies, and of love in general under the influence of their literature teacher, Father Manolo.

This schoolboy love triangle throws the three of them up face-to-face during two more encounters, later in their lives. “Bad Education” is a film not nearly as light-hearted as the rest of this director’s work. While it’s not where we’d recommend that you start off, “Bad Education” is well worth seeing *if* you’ve seen most of this director’s *other* work.