Year of release: 1987
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Stars: Eusebio Poncela, Antonio Banderas, Carmen Maura, Miguel Molina, Fernando Guillen, Nacho Martinez, Manuela Velasco, Bibi Andersen, Fernando Guillen Cuervo
Genre: Drama, Dark Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
Synopsis:At the peak of his creative writing and directing skills, Almodovar released "La Ley Del Deseo" one year after "Matador". He maintained his team and tackled a story that mirrored his love for film making and the drama from Douglas Sirk 1950s films. The film follows Pablo, a well known and successful film and theater director who is trying to make a relationship with a young man named Juan work. Their relationship is under some strain and following Juan's exit, Pablo gets briefly involved with Antonio, an inexperienced young man, who soon becomes obsessed and possessive with Pablo. Pablo's sister, Tina (a middle aged transsexual), has her own relationship problems and is taking care of young Ada. Antonio changes the dynamics of this group, when he decides that Pablo is his and his alone.
"La Ley Del Deseo" was another triumph for Almodovar, even if a bit scandalous, with it's very frank and graphic sex scenes. Working from his own screenplay, Almodovar utilized the film context (which he uses with some regularity for inspiration), to build a story of sexual longing and of true identity. Antonio who mentions to Pablo at the beginning of the film, isn't gay, becomes a prisoner of his love and desire, whereas Tina lives a life that is a consequence of her desires. All the characters in the story end up carrying the consequences of their own urges and ultimately, of what their love has dictated. No matter how far off reality these characters appear to be, Almodovar always finds a way to anchor them and show just how beneath all the frantic despair, lies a romantic heart. A great film.
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