Bad Education (2004)

An examination on the effect of Franco-era religious schooling and sexual abuse on the lives of two longtime friends.

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:

Pedro Almodóvar

Stars:

Gael García Bernal, Fele Martínez, Javier Cámara

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 15 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gael García Bernal	...	Ángel / Juan / Zahara
Fele Martínez	...	Enrique Goded
Daniel Giménez Cacho	...	Padre Manolo
Lluís Homar	...	Sr. Manuel Berenguer
Francisco Maestre	...	Padre José
Francisco Boira	...	Ignacio
Juan Fernández	...	Martín
Nacho Pérez	...	Ignacio (as Ignacio Pérez)
Raúl García Forneiro	...	Enrique (as Raúl Gª Forneiro)
Javier Cámara	...	Paca / Paquito
Alberto Ferreiro	...	Enrique Serrano
Petra Martínez	...	Madre
Sandra
Roberto Hoyas	...	Camarero

Storyline

In the early 60s, two boys - Ignacio and Enrique - discover love, movies and fear in a Christian school. Father Manolo, the school principal and Literature teacher, both witnesses and takes part in these discoveries. The three characters come against one another twice again, in the late 70s and in 1980. These meetings are set to change the life and death of some of them.

---

Plot Keywords:

school | teacher | catholic school | screenplay | catholic | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for a scene of explicit sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Brazil]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish Latin

Release Date:

11 February 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad Education

Filming Locations:

Escuela Pías de Alella, Alella, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,199,793 (Spain) (19 March 2004)

Gross:

$5,211,842 (USA) (22 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, El Deseo, Televisión Española (TVE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ending of the film was only resolved in the editing suite. An alternate ending (which only resolves the film-within-the-film) is available as a "deleted scene" on the DVD.

---

Goofs

When Burenguer declines Ignacio's story over the phone, he says that he wouldn't be accepting it for "Short Stories of the 80's". According to his story, it would have had to been at least 1977, three years before the '80s let alone before a compilation of stories from the '80s would be released.

---

Quotes

Ignacio: I think I've just lost my faith at this moment, so I no longer believe in God or hell. As I don't believe in hell, I'm not afraid. And without fear I'm capable of anything.

---

Connections

References Two Rode Together (1961)

---

Soundtracks

Maniquí Parisien
(Arcadio Rosés Berdiel / Manuel Aniesa (as Manuel Aniesa Pelayo))
(c) 1960 by Arcadio Roses Berdiel/Manuel Aniesa Pelayo, Madrid
Authorized by the exclusive worldwide rights holder, Ediciones Musicales Hispavox, S.A.
Performed by Sara Montiel
By the license from Dpto. de Productos Especiales de (p) EMI Odeon, S.A., Madrid, España, 2003

User Reviews

Not the best, but still wonderful

The latest film by Almodovar after the awarded All about my mother and Talk to her has divided the public opinion. Part of the audience say its the continuity of the director's talent and the other part does not like the film at all. But this division has always happened with Almodovar films, you love it or you hate it.

Of course the subject of the church and the pederasty has provoked scandals, like the cancellation of the film in many French cinemas, but despite this fact the film has been the one chosen (and the first Spanish film) to open the Cannes festival.

In the film we can feel Almodovar touch everywhere: the tremendously deep characters, the unbelievable plot and the colourful scene as well as in the camera angles. All this things make Almodovar maintain a fidelity to his style. Another curiosity is the cameo that the director's brother, who appears in most of his films, does, in this case as a pool cleaner.

The Gael Garcia's acting, without Mexican accent, is wonderful and he shines as a travestite femme fatale, an icon to noir films, just as Almodovar likes to describe the film.. The atmosphere of the film carries us to the 80s thanks to its perfect job of decoration and wardrobe documentation .