Bad Education (aka La Mala Educación) (2004) (Spain)
The official website is here
http://www.sonyclassics.com/badeducation/
What I like?
- The plot. Although the idea of "film within film" is NOT new, the movie captivates one's attention.
- Belying the obvious plot and "film within film", it has a more complex message of FACT versus FICTION. In our lives, how much is real and how much is fiction? How much is what we want to believe, what we want others to believe, and what others want us to believe.
** In fact, even when the movie/story ends, why don't we (as audience) question the "truth" (if any) of the "final" story???
- The movie does NOT judge its characters. Instead, you can choose who to like and who to hate ... is anyone truly hateful or truly likeable?
- The performance by Gael. ;)
- The soundtrack.
What I thought could be better?
- The movie title should really be "THE VISIT" (i.e., Las Visitas). In the screenplay, EVERY SINGLE VISIT is important. Not just the "visit" to the old school. Some may feel that there is only 1 or 2 visits ... BUT in my humble opinion, there are more than 3 visits, 4 visits, etc ... go figure that ... In addition, it also suggests to the audience it might be the director's semi-autobiography ...
** I really don't like the title BAD EDUCATION. It does NOT capture the essence of the ENTIRE movie.
- Really pardon me, but I thought the young Ignacio was not very convincing ... and he has quite substantial screen time.
CONCLUSION:
- It can be a very complex film if you are willing to think beyond the obvious plot. But of course, at times, we might credit the movie more than what the director has intended.
Re: Bad Education (aka La Mala Educación) (2004) (Spain)
I could write reams of comments and observations about La Mala Educacion. I'll limit myself to a few that relate to something you've written. I'm fond of this type of interactive criticism built out of rather discrete exchanges within a community of cinephiles (if I may so label this site's users). I hope the film generates vigorous participation and lively discussion. Warning: This Must-See film contains elements of mystery. Comments below may reveal too much for those who haven't seen it.
Originally posted by hengcs
What I like?- The plot. Although the idea of "film within film" is NOT new, the movie captivates one's attention.Belying the obvious plot and "film within film", it has a more complex message of FACT versus FICTION.
With 25 years of experience, Almodovar has achieved a formal command few possess. He juggles at least three time periods: Mid-60s (when Franco and the Church were most powerful); 1977, when "La Movida" (the anything-goes cultural movement that followed the end of the dictatorship) was rapidly changing Spanish society; and 1980, the film's present (the year Almodovar released the zany Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del monton). There are different combinations of reality and fiction, both from more than one point of view. Notice that the scenes set in the mid-60s (which turn out to be the film-within-the film La Visita), may differ from the lines from the script that we hear in voice-over.
What is remarkable is that such complexities are never confounding or confusing to the viewer. The temporal transitions and the different views of reality are handled adroitly by a mature filmmaker and his collaborators.
In fact, even when the movie/story ends, why don't we (as audience) question the "truth" (if any) of the "final" story?
This could take us to very interesting places if you're willing to get into specifics.
The movie does NOT judge its characters. Instead, you can choose who to like and who to hate ... is anyone truly hateful or truly likeable?
Few would sympathize with Padre Manolo's assistant, the fat priest who apparently is in charge of discipline (the child Ignacio alludes to his being violent). Even though he only appears in La Visita, we assume he is a character based on a real person.
Few (if any) would hate Paquita (Javier Camara), the affable transvestite in the scenes set in 1977, who is a good friend to Zahara and the source of most of La Mala Educacion's humor.
Enrique, the director (Fele Martinez), is for the most part presented as a person of integrity.
Padre Manolo is a hypocritical character who takes advantage of his position of power to force 10 year olds into sexual activity. You can argue that he is a prisoner of his desires, but I don't buy it as an excuse. The film doesn't attempt to excuse his transgressions. The final scenes render the now-lay Manolo as truly despicable.
Juan is probably the most hate-worthy character in La Mala Educacion. His going along with the murder plot is explained by Ignacio's stealing Granny's pension, and a crucial line of dialogue: "Do you know what is like to live in a small town with a transvestite queen as your brother?". I'd say the dude is still detestable.
The soundtrack.
The great pieces, both sung ("Moon River", "Quizas, quizas, quizas",etc.) and overheard, and a masterful music score by the great Alberto Iglesias. The composer is responsible for scoring Almodovar's last five films and the last six directed by Julio Medem (Lovers of the Artic Circle, Sex and Lucia).
What I thought could be better?The movie title should really be "THE VISIT" (i.e., Las Visitas).EVERY SINGLE VISIT is important. I really don't like the title BAD EDUCATION. It does NOT capture the essence of the ENTIRE movie.
The title implies that Almodovar blames Padre Manolo's actions, and by extension a Catholic education, for the tragic life experienced by Ignacio. It serves as an indictment. It's a more specific title than La Visita. Anyway, the title of the film had to differ, by necessity, from the title of the film-within-the-film.
Really pardon me, but I thought the young Ignacio was not very convincing ... and he has quite substantial screen time.
I disagree, but this is entirely a matter of subjective opinion. I thought young Nacho Perez was very effective in the role.
Re: Re: Bad Education (aka La Mala Educación) (2004) (Spain)
* MAJOR SPOILERS *
[QUOTE]Originally posted by oscar jubis
This could take us to very interesting places if you're willing to get into specifics.
e.g.,
(i) What makes the audience so sure that the priest is telling the truth about Juan having a role in the murder? Could it be merely out of spite because Juan left him, or because he wanted Juan to leave Enrique, or simply to ruin Juan's career, etc?
(ii) Their childhood days are told mainly in the film within film (which is WRITTEN by Ignacio but also EDITED by Enrique), so how much is truth, and how much is fiction is again unknown. Is it what Ignacio and Enrique wanted us to believe happened?
I wrote
The movie does NOT judge its characters. Instead, you can choose who to like and who to hate ... is anyone truly hateful or truly likeable?
Oscar wrote
... Enrique, the director (Fele Martinez), is for the most part presented as a person of integrity.
... Padre Manolo is a hypocritical character who takes advantage of his position of power to force 10 year olds into sexual activity.
... Juan is probably the most hate-worthy character ... "Do you know what is like to live in a small town with a transvestite queen as your brother?" I'd say the dude is still detestable.
... Few would sympathize with Padre Manolo's assistant, the fat priest ...
... Few (if any) would hate Paquita (Javier Camara) ...
I am NOT defending the righteousness of any acts, but I am simply corroborating my case of the script trying to make things more "grey" ...
-- Enrique is NOT consistently noble, he has abused his POWER as a director to sleep with the actor. (Doesn't this sound familiar? Hollywood? Corporations? etc)
-- Padre is the villain. ok ok.
(i) But is he also a victim when he is kind of being extorted a million by Ignacio?
(ii) Also, is he doing some good (at least to Ignacio and Enrique) by telling what happened? (i.e., if he is telling the truth).
(iii) Yes, he is despicable, but NOTE how the movie CRAFTED very cunningly the scene when Ignacio GAVE IN. (ok, maybe the director or script writer did NOT write that intentionally, and I credit the script too much, but I noted the scene.) It was Ignacio who "ASKED" for the abuse in exchange for Enrique's pardon. ok ok. I am not here to encourage abuse, but I am saying it is VERY SLY of the director to CRAFT it that way.
-- Now to Juan, we are really in NO position to judge him. Why? History has informed that there will be some who like them and some who hate them (e.g., Peron in Evita, was she unscrupulous or just learning the "art of survival").
"Do you know what is like to live in a small town with a transvestite queen as your brother?" Well, only those who are in the dilemma,, living at THAT TIME and PLACE would know how it is like ...
Now more examples from the movie
(i) Juan has been used/abused by Enrique too, even though Enrique knew that Juan was NOT Ignacio.
(ii) Juan had to "take care" of Ignacio (asked by his mother), but Ignacio did NOT care much about Juan
(iii) At the end, the priest kept pestering/stalking Juan ... etc
-- I actually did NOT want to discuss the fat priest because he had too few scenes to talk about. But if you insist, note that all of his "evil deeds" (that are depicted in the movie) are to PROTECT the priest, NOT himself. You can blame him on bad deeds, but he is really "loyal and protective" to the priest or maybe the reputation of the church?!
-- I also did NOT want to discuss about Paquita because she also had too few scenes. But if you insist, isn't Paquita and Zahara GUILTY of STEALING bikes and money from drunk guys?
I wrote
What I thought could be better?The movie title should really be "THE VISIT" (i.e., Las Visitas).
Oscar wrote
The title implies that Almodovar blames Padre Manolo's actions, and by extension a Catholic education, for the tragic life experienced by Ignacio. It serves as an indictment. It's a more specific title than La Visita. Anyway, the title of the film had to differ, by necessity, from the title of the film-within-the-film.
-- Blaming everything only on the Catholic Church over simplifies the story and more importantly, the entire complexity of the movie.
-- I thought that if the title of the film is the same as the title of the film-within-the-film, it will make the movie even more THOUGHT PROVOKING!!!
;)