There are certain styles that each director gives his film. Director Almodovar, creates an atmosphere of brooding drama and sexuality. The scandal of priests molesting children created an interesting touch to this movie. The story structure can relate to actual events at this time because of real life priest scandals. Sometimes it can be tough to understand a movie the first time you see it especially if you spend more time looking at the subtitles than the picture itself.
Certain visual messages can be lost, but in "Bad Education" that was not the case at all!
The characters of Enrique and Ignacio are so well portrayed by the actors that one truly believes the story and their performances.
Almodovar's style of adding twists and turns is nicely done because by the end of this movie he creates a certain sypathetic feeling towards Father Manolo, who by the end of the film leaves the preisthood and changes his name to Mr. Berenguer. The character of Manolo creates a hatred at first when the boys are young and still in school however, when we meet Mr. Berenguer and he fills Enrique in on the real story of what happened to the real Ignacio it hits like a bullet from a .45!
The last twenty minutes of the movie truely show us that Berenguer is actually a victim. He is still a cause for the reason Ignacio's life turned out the way it did, but you actually feel bad almost for Manolo/Berenguer.
Each character is a victim of their own mortality in this movie. Another thing I need to mention is the use of sexual content. There were a lot of very suggestive scenes. The scene when Ignacio and Enrique are jerking off in the movie theatre lets the audience know just what direction the boys were heading and how it would shape their future lives. I am not really a fan of movies geared toward homosexuality, but I have nothing against it. This movie was done in such a well written, directed and acted way that I believe it would appeal to everyone in one way or another.
The biggest twist in this film is that we find out Ignacio is not really Ignacio, but his brother Juan/Angel. Angel's drive to play a part in his own script shows us just how much he can take and how willing he is to go all the way to get what he wants. The script that Angel brings Enrique is a way for Angel to relive his brother's life and experience. This also gives us insight into how cold and vicious Angel is. Any man who would kill his own brother has some serious issues. Add in the fact that he was banging the very man who ruined his brother's life and you have a recipe for trouble. Ignacio's story "The Visit" really does reopen old wounds for all involved in its filming. Enrique is a strong character who really propels things further by even after finding out that Ignacio was dead he still let Angel carry out his act. Now some would say that Enrique should have just stopped him once he found out the real Ignacio was dead, but if that were so there would not be a resolution to come. Enrique knew exactly what he was doing and kept control of not only his emotions, but he brought about a conclusion to his own past with Ignacio.
As far as techincal aspects go the film was very well done. The scenery was lavish, well framed shots, the musical score fit perfectly and the subject matter along with a twist at every turn makes for a very involving film about lies, love, deception and redemption!
I'll give it a thumbs up!
Brad
