Matador (1986)

Ex-bullfighter who is getting turned on by killing, lady lawyer with same problem and young man driven insane by over-religious upbringing - these are the main characters in this stylish ... See full summary »

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar (story), Jesús Ferrero (screenplay),

Stars:

Assumpta Serna, Antonio Banderas, Nacho Martínez

6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Assumpta Serna	...	María Cardenal
Antonio Banderas	...	Ángel
Nacho Martínez	...	Diego Montez
Eva Cobo	...	Eva
Julieta Serrano	...	Berta Giménez
Chus Lampreave	...	Pilar
Carmen Maura	...	Julia
Eusebio Poncela	...	Comisario del Valle
Bibiana Fernández	...	Vendedora Flores (as Bibi Andersen)
Luis Ciges	...	Guarda Mariano
Eva Siva	...	Asistenta María y Diego
Verónica Forqué	...	Periodista
Pepa Merino	...	Secretaria María
Lola Peno	...	Alumna 1ª
Marisa Tejada	...	Alumna 2ª

Storyline

Ex-bullfighter who is getting turned on by killing, lady lawyer with same problem and young man driven insane by over-religious upbringing - these are the main characters in this stylish black comedy about dark sides of human nature.

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Plot Keywords:

black comedy | lawyer | police | suicide | police station | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for aberrant sexuality including violence

Details

Official Sites:

Films sans Frontières [fr]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

7 March 1986 (Spain)

Also Known As:

The Bullfighter

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 118,531,805 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compañía Iberoamericana de TV, Televisión Española (TVE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ana Belén and Charo López were both considered for the female lead.

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Connections

Referenced in Basic Instinct (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Espérame en el cielo"
Written by P. López Vidal
Performed by Mina

User Reviews

Strange but beautiful

You are right, when you say, that it's not a usual Almodovar film. Pedro's latest movies contain more homosexuality, more humour and more warmness. This is a seriuos one, and that's why it works. You can't escape from the depressing and weired atmosphere of the film, you have to search for answers after last sequence. Who is Diego, and who is Maria? Are they a perverted couple or are they the gratest lovers since Romeo and Julia? I think that first of all they are lovers, whom the fate has destined to be together. In my interpretation they not perverted, just too perfectionist and realist. They know that, they can't be happier, they are on the top of theire love after that only worse can come : disaffection, old age and slow death. And because they both proud peapole, who always wanted the best (but rarely get it, they decide to have a perfect relationship which ends not with hate and regret as usual, but with lust, love and death. Some find the film weired, but can't deny the beauty of how the film ends.