The Skin I Live In (2011)
"La piel que habito" (original title)

A brilliant plastic surgeon, haunted by past tragedies, creates a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. His guinea pig: a mysterious and volatile woman who holds the key to his obsession.

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Agustín Almodóvar (collaboration), Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay),

Stars:

Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Marisa Paredes

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Banderas	...	Robert Ledgard
Elena Anaya	...	Vera Cruz
Marisa Paredes	...	Marilia
Jan Cornet	...	Vicente
Roberto Álamo	...	Zeca
Eduard Fernández	...	Fulgencio
José Luis Gómez	...	Presidente del Instituto de Biotecnología
Blanca Suárez	...	Norma Ledgard
Susi Sánchez	...	Madre de Vicente
Bárbara Lennie	...	Cristina
Fernando Cayo	...	Médico
Chema Ruiz	...	Policía
Buika	...	Cantante (as Concha Buika)
Ana Mena	...	Norma joven
Teresa Manresa	...	Casilda Efraiz

Storyline

In honor of his late wife who died in a flaming car accident, scientist, Dr. Robert Ledgard, is trying to synthesize the perfect skin which can withstand burns, cuts or any other kind of damage. As he gets closer to perfecting this skin on his flawless patient, the scientific community starts growing skeptical and his past is revealed that shows how his patient is closely linked to tragic events he would like to forget.

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Plot Keywords:

skin | death | revenge | key | plastic surgeon | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violent content including sexual assault, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, drug use and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook [gb] Official Facebook [us]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

2 September 2011 (Spain)

Also Known As:

The Skin I Live In

Filming Locations:

A Estrada, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$223,119 (USA) (14 October 2011)

Gross:

$3,185,193 (USA) (23 March 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blue Haze Entertainment, Canal+ España, El Deseo D.A. S.L.U.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The man that goes to the dress shop to bring his wife's garments, is Agustín Almodóvar, producer of the film and brother of Pedro Almodóvar.

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Goofs

When Vera comes to the clothes shop in a taxi, the taxi is very clearly a Ford C-Max. However, in the next shot, when the reflection of the car is visible in the in the window pane as it drives away, it's a Volkswagen Jetta.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Marilia: [to servant] Help me with the dumbwaiter.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Review of 2011 (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Por el amor de amar"
(versión brasileña)
Written by Jean Manzon and José Toledo
Performed by Ana Mena

User Reviews

A disturbing and thought provoking film

A fascinating and powerful departure for Almodovar, or perhaps more accurately more an terrific hybrid of the best of his old and new. This has the darker, more actively perversely disturbing and violent themes of some of his early work like 'Matador' but shot and directed with the far smoother and more mature hand he has developed over the years. It also uses the more complex and fractured time structure style of Almodovar's more recent work, to great effect.

In the end its a gorgeous looking, philosophically complex mystery and horror film. Although not gory, this is a disturbing work, both on a literal story level, and also for the questions it raises about identity, love, sado-masochism, and passion run amok.

These themes are all Almodovar touchstones, but delivered here with a visually stunning icy touch, and with much more complete logic than in his early works, which often felt less fully thought through, and had more frustrating plot holes and character leaps.

Not a 'scary' film, but a creepy, moody and highly effective one. A dark fairy tale as told by, say Stanley Kubrick.

It's good to see Antonio Banderas reunited with Almodovar, and he delivers a wonderfully complex and quirky modern day Dr. Frankenstein.

Less emotional than my two very favorite Almodovar films (Talk to Her, All About My Mother), but its exciting to see this extremely talented film maker continue to evolve and grow, and I think this represents work that can stand among his best.