Live Flesh (1997)
"Carne trémula" (original title)

After leaving jail, Víctor is still in love with Elena, but she's married to the former cop -now basketball player- who became paralysed by a shot from Víctor's gun...

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar, Jorge Guerricaechevarría,

Stars:

Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Javier Bardem	...	David
Francesca Neri	...	Elena
Liberto Rabal	...	Víctor Plaza
Ángela Molina	...	Clara (as Angela Molina)
José Sancho	...	Sancho (as Jose Sancho)
Penélope Cruz	...	Isabel Plaza Caballero (as Penelope Cruz)
Pilar Bardem	...	Doña Centro de Mesa
Álex Angulo	...	Conductor del autobús (as Alex Angulo)
Mariola Fuentes	...	Clementina
Yael Be	...	Chica
Josep Molins	...	Josep
Daniel Lanchas	...	Conductor
María Rosenfeldt	...	Niña (as Maria Rosenfeldt)

Storyline

Pizza delivery man Victor is having an argument with Elena, whom he met a few days ago, but she was high then and doesn't want to hear about him. Reacting to the noise, two cops, young David and older Sancho, arrive at the scene, the gun accidentally goes off.. Four years later David is a wheelchair basketball star, he's married to Elena, Victor is released out of prison and their destinies begin to cross again.

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | gun | wheelchair | delivery | wheelchair basketball | 

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Taglines:

Life, love, desire...and everything in between.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some drug content

Details

Official Sites:

MGM MGM [us] (Flash only)

Country:

France Spain

Language:

Spanish Italian

Release Date:

16 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Live Flesh

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£56,060 (UK) (15 May 1998)

Gross:

£179,285 (UK) (22 May 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, El Deseo S.A., France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The literal translation of the Spanish title is "trembling flesh".

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Quotes

Sancho: You're aiming at your superior!
David: No, I'm aiming at a lunatic and a drunk!

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Connections

References Blue Chips (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Ay mi perro"
Written by J. del Valls Domínguez, Manuel Gordillo (as Manuel Gordillo Ladrón de Guevara)) and Augusto Algueró (as A. Algueró Algueró)
Edited by Canciones del Mundo, S.A.
Courtesy of BMG Music Spain, S.A.

User Reviews

An excellent Almodovar's drama

If you intend to see such a film, I warn you that you should not miss any scene if you really want to understand its intelligently arranged plot. Sometimes I see Almodovar as a kind of Victor Hugo of cinema because he makes various complicated scenes not coherently inserted in the film that you should put in order step by step. May be in this way the excitement increases and you will be more anxious to know the end of the film. Javier Bardem (David) played the role of ex-agent and ex-basketball player who was shot in fact accidentally. The Italian actress Francesca Neri is David's wife, and young Liberto Rabal is Victor, the man supposedly spoiling the lives of others, and strong lover. Love and sex scenes of the film are intense as if they were real. The behavior of the actors and actresses in the film is convincingly human, i.e. people having their merits and shortcomings in their lives, there is no fictitious models of behavior. Almodovar, as usual, tries to reflect the reality. There are many good dramas in cinema but this one is probably one of the best.