¡Átame! (1990)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay)
Pedro Almodóvar (story)

Release Date:

1990 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A love story...with strings attached!

Plot:

Ricky is released from a mental hospital, and knows exactly what he wants to do. He hunts down Marina...

Plot Keywords:

Porn Actress | Hospital | Obsession | Actress | Mental Hospital

Awards:

6 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Victoria Abril	...	Marina Osorio
Antonio Banderas	...	Ricky
Loles León	...	Lola
Julieta Serrano	...	Alma
María Barranco	...	Médica
Rossy de Palma	...	Camello en Vespa
Francisco Rabal	...	Máximo Espejo
Lola Cardona	...	Directora psiquiátrico
Montse G. Romeu	...	Periodista
Emiliano Redondo	...	Decorador
Oswaldo Delgado	...	Fantasma
Concha Rabal	...	Farmacéutica
Alberto Fernández	...	Productor
José María Tasso	...	Anciano psiquiátrico
Angelina Llongueras	...	Montadora

Also Known As:

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (USA)

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for scene of strong adult sensuality with nudity.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Italy:VM18 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (re-rating) | USA:X (original rating) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Barajas, Madrid, Spain

Company:

El Deseo S.A.

Trivia:

The sex scene between 'Antonio Banderas' and Victoria Abril took nine takes to get right, and about nine hours to film. Pedro Almodóvar chose to use the last take as, by that time, the two actors had worked themselves up into a sweat which made the scene appear to be more authentic. Elia Kazan later remarked that he thought it was one of the best sex scenes he had ever witnessed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Satanasa

Both heads functioning at full capacity

I have to wonder why anyone who would give this movie a low rating felt the need to see it in the first place. Did you think you were gonna get a 90 minute subtitled skin flick? Tsk, tsk.

The characters are incredibly well-defined and the writing is ingenious. The scene in the apartment when Banderas first breaks in and confronts Abril is writing at perfection-- this man has forced his way in, but you go from liking him, to hating him, to liking him again in just this short little scene. The history between these characters is truly warped, and that makes this a really enjoyable film to watch, and I'm not just saying that because of the nudity.

Almodovar may have his obsessions, but that doesn't mean the rest of the movie isn't worth watching. It is, and will make you think, which I know a lot of American film-watchers don't like to do.

I had never seen an Almodovar film before, but I am so glad I did. Makes me want to find out just what else has been out there.

Artsy little film, with both heads functioning at full capacity. 9/10.