Almodovar has done it again. The Spanish filmmaker has once again wowed audiences all over Europe with his latest movie ‘The Skin I live In’, one of his darkest scripts to date that will make you squirm in your seat.

A brilliant plastic surgeon, portrayed by a cold-blooded looking Antonio Banderas, experiments with human skin in his well-equipped operating theater, a solitary palatial mansion where he secretly uses a young girl ,Vera, as his guinea pig.

Vera, wonderfully played by the talented Elena Anaya, and her smooth skin will play a big part in this chilling story as the surgeon keeps experimenting on her in order to create an indestructible skin. Vera is not only getting her skin replaced but also adapting a new look, specific features that might resemble someone else.

With a twisted plot that will make your brain guess and relate the facts of the story all the way though the movie, Pedro Almodovar delivers a bizarre storyline with a very superficial title, What’s more superficial than our skin?, and yet move us in so many different levels by exposing us to a raw representation of the human nature.

The script, that was freely adapted from the novel Mygale by Thierry Jonquet, has been considered one of Almodovar’s most elaborated stories of all time, drenched in a hand-embroidered universe of thrilling scenes that will throw you back to those of Hitchcock and Buñuel. You can still perceive the pure Almodovar elements in the visuals as well, let alone the music, composed by long-time collaborator Alberto Iglesias.

Leading a pack of fierce actors, the submissive beauty of Elena Anaya tries to get untangled from the abusive and aggressive character of Antonio Banderas, by using her sex-appealing fragility that differs from her surgically-enhanced super skin. Marisa Paredes, Jan Cornet, Blanca Suarez and Roberto Alamo help you shape and mold this tale in your head.

One more time Almodovar’s supporting actors are as essential and relevant as the leading ones. The filmmaker, two-time Academy Award Winner and recipient of the most emblematic awards in cinematography, is no stranger to controversy. He has been slammed by moralists and conservative audiences for dealing with LGTB themes, explicit scenes, irreverent humor or feminism.

This time around he is facing criticism for a rather violent plot and some backlash from the Spanish media, which did not stop his unconditional and devoted fans from making ‘The Skin I live In’ the second highest grossing movie during its first week in Spain.

International markets such as France, Germany or The United States have always shown a warm appreciation for his work making his movies both critically and commercially successful. In the United States, The movie premiers at the New York Film Festival on 12 October 2011 and then it is expected to hit theaters across the country just in time to get some Oscar Buzz.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/theskinilivein

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About the author

Francisco Blanco
Born and raised in Spain. Language Teacher, in love with California,movies, art, music, fashion and traveling. Currently looking for a country to explore while I figure out what I want to do next.