Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

An unbalanced but alluring former mental patient takes a porn star prisoner in the hopes of convincing her to marry him.

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay), Pedro Almodóvar (story)

Stars:

Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles León

8 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victoria Abril	...	Marina Osorio
Antonio Banderas	...	Ricky
Loles León	...	Lola (as Loles Leon)
María Barranco	...	Berta (as Maria Barranco)
Rossy de Palma	...	Traficante de drogas en Vespa
Julieta Serrano	...	Alma
Francisco Rabal	...	Máximo Espejo
Lola Cardona	...	Directora psiquiátrico
Montse G. Romeu	...	Montse
Emiliano Redondo	...	Decorador
Oswaldo Delgado	...	Fantasma
Concha Rabal	...	Farmacéutica
Alberto Fernández	...	Productor (as Alberto Fernandez)
José María Tasso	...	Anciano psiquiátrico
Angelina Llongueras	...	Montadora

Storyline

Ricky is released from a mental hospital, and knows exactly what he wants to do. He hunts down Marina, a porn film star he once had sex with, and tries to convince her to be his wife. She is a bit reluctant, so he ties her up. Will this approach endear him to her?

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Plot Keywords:

handcuffs | masturbation with a toy | pantyhose | female full rear nudity | tied up while barefoot | 

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Taglines:

A love story...with strings attached!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the films (along with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)) that was instrumental in bringing about the introduction of the NC-17 rating in the U.S., as the film's distributor, Miramax, took the MPAA to court over the X certification it had initially been designated. According to Pedro Almodóvar, the MPAA did not believe an R was appropriate, even after cuts, because they were afraid the film would inspire young men to kidnap women out of lust. Miramax argued an X rating implicated pornography and would diminish its audience, but they lost the lawsuit and the film was released unrated. In September 1990, the MPAA replaced X with NC-17 in response to numerous appeals by other filmmakers under similar circumstances. Eventually, the film was re-rated NC-17 for home video release, the reason being the explicit scene of Marina being aroused by a toy diver in the bathtub.

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Goofs

When Ricky goes out alone to get medication, he locks the apartment door and puts the key chain in his pocket. While he exits the front door of the building, it is hanging off his belt.

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Quotes

Ricky: Will you run away if I don't tie you up?
Marina Osorio: I don't know. You'd better tie me up. Tie me up.

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Connections

Referenced in Holiday in Handcuffs (2007)

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Soundtracks

Resistiré
Written by Carlos Toro (as Carlos Toro) and Manuel de la Calva
Performed by Dúo Dinámico

User Reviews

One of Almodovar's Best

Atame! is my favorite Almodovar film. A lot of people don't think it is incredibly great, but I have to disagree.

Although Talk to Her is probably his most accomplished & strongest film to date, Atame has a light comedic air without the tragic overtones of his latest films. The movie provides some insight into the film-making process a la Fellini. It also deals with psychological imprisonment, release, and how some forms of entrapment are preferable to others.

Both leads are great, and it's easy to see how Banderas' charisma led him to be such a well known actor in later years.

Highly recommended.

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

22 January 1990 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

Filming Locations:

Barajas, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$65,299, 6 May 1990

Gross USA:

$4,087,361

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,087,361

Company Credits

Production Co:

El Deseo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1