[CRITICAL] MATADOR (1986)

The story : A police investigation creates progressively links between four characters. A matador – turned-professor of bullfighting, one of his students, a lawyer, and finally, the girlfriend of the first. MATADOR observes the relationship between them, but also with those who observe them, go with them.

If Pepi, Luci, Bom and other girls of the neighbourhood could be defined by its formal freedom and its freedom of tone, if That is what I have done to deserve this ? … denoted the intellectual ambition (and therefore formal) of Almodóvar, MATADOR is awesome in his writing. One of the characters, their dialogues, and then the scenario.

Almodóvar tightens its grip on the four characters. Imagine a box of petri, four bacteria, and many cells around. Name the bacteria : the spider, the virgin, the matador and the actress. Each, therefore, a personality of its own – but also and while there is interest, capacity, secondary, and hidden that redefine the personality first. The idea is to observe all the possible interactions between them.

On the edges, to other beings, to revolve them also have online guidelines and characteristics are less developed but just as decisive. They are used as catalysts when necessary, or simply support the many theories about each of the characters.

This world-experience feeds on itself, is transformed into a stage / parlor game, or it is impossible to guess who is really what.

Matador ? or bull… Sword, or flesh ? Seducer or seduced ? Sex, enjoyment, and suffering ? Sado-masochism ?

The casting is about it, great. Roles the primary and secondary complementary, opposed redefined. Almost perfect !

The themes fetishes of Almodóvar, come back, and binding. More than a signature, they will define and govern a world bubble, however part of a reality in madrid.

Of course, one perceives the patterns, the themes of the filmography of the director : the woman, the enjoyment, homosexuality…

But in the MATADOR, as well as our different characters, these themes can be parent to a new dimension never seen before !

The woman is no longer deified but to put an equality with the man. The enjoyment is literally melts in the violence. Homosexuality – taboo if it is, but not for Almodóvar – is no longer a backdrop that sets one or two characters, but beautiful and well a element story. As I explained above, it is to observe ALL possible interactions between two men and two women, to understand the real relations by which they define themselves.

Mine nothing, the momentum induced is extremely stimulating.

” A game of track psychological, detective, sensual, schizophrenic, stimulating, accessible… A little masterpiece ! ”

Formally, it is also a step forward. The imaging adopts several forms : sometimes it is aesthetic. Sometimes into the abyss ; the staging of the sensuality may be what stands out the most. It merges well with the writing : the characters, their dialogues, and that of the image.

The narration is also quite linear, but the script that inspires it is devilishly intelligent, and devious. It is a survey, but the enigma is as much physical as it is psychological. Sexual identity and power relations are all subject to mark that the origin of the different events are grim : some characters are presented from the outset as guilty, others as victims… in Spite of appearances, are they really ? A Cluedo-size nature that will find resolution in a climate of mystical surprise.

In short, MATADOR is a new slap signed Pedro Almodóvar. The director gains a little more personality formal and technical, but also builds to an exciting game. As much psychological, as a police officer or a sensual. the result is schizophrenic and challenging, while being accessible. A little masterpiece !

Pedro Almodóvar : Price Light 2014

Pepi, Luci, Bom and other girls in the neighborhood of Pedro Almodóvar (Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón, 1980, 1h18)

That is what I have done to deserve this ? Pedro Almodóvar (¿ Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto !!, 1984, 1h47)

MATADOR by Pedro Almodóvar (1986, 1: 45)

The Law of desire by Pedro Almodóvar (La ley del deseo, 1987, 1h44)

Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown by Pedro Almodóvar (Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, 1988, 1: 35:)

Home-me ! Pedro Almodóvar (Átame !, 1989, 1h41)

High heels by Pedro Almodóvar (Tacones lejanos, 1991, 1h53)

The Flower of my secret by Pedro Almodóvar (La flor de mi secreto, 1995, 1h42)

In the flesh by Pedro Almodóvar (Carne trémula, 1997, 1h39)

All about my mother by Pedro Almodóvar (Todo sobre mi madre, 1999, 1: 40)

Talk to her by Pedro Almodóvar (Hable con ella, 2002, 1h52)

Volver by Pedro Almodóvar (2006, 2h02)

La piel habito that of Pedro Almodóvar (2011, 2h01)

Almodóvar Producer : Before-first

New wild from Damián Szifrón (Relatos salvajes, 2014, 2h02)

For the programming of the Festival of Light 2014 : go HERE