LIVE FLESH/ CARNE TREMULA
Spain, 1997, 104 minutes, Colour.
Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal, Angela Molina, Jose Sancho, Penelope Cruz, Pilar Bardem.
Directed by Pedro Almodovar.
Live Flesh has, as might be expected, some intense sex scenes. They are in the context of love, betrayal and violence. Pedro Almodovar has been making films in Spain for many years now, colourful melodramas with a touch of soap opera.
This one is entertaining and is based on a Ruth Rendell novel, adapted successfully to Spanish culture. The opening is politicised, a critique of the end of the Franco era. But, in more modern and open Spain, there are still social problems that have emotional consequences. This is more of a drama than a thriller, a story of obsession and betrayal.
Javier Bardem has a central role with a cameo by Penelope Cruz. Liberto Rabal comes from a prominent acting family, including his grandfather, Francisco Rabal.
It is all done with emotional Spanish flair.
1. The title? Life? Stories of the flesh?
2. The work of the director, the transition from the 1980s to the 1990s? Spanish dramas, melodramas, the touch of soap opera?
3. The mood of the opening, Isabella in the apartment, her screams, the landlady, the pregnancy, getting downstairs, the taxi refusing, hailing the bus and kneeling in front of it, driving, stopping for the birth, the crotchety driver and his change of attitude, the joy of the birth, biting the umbilical cord, going to the hospital? The visual aspects – and the action inside the bus with the audience looking at long shot of the bus with the activity within?
4. The acclamation of the birth, the mayor, the bus company director, the gift of life travel on the bus?
5. 20 years later, the son, Victor, the mementos of his mother, her grave in the cemetery, bringing her flowers? On the bike, the encounter with Elena, the phone call, the appointment, her breaking it, in the bus, miserable, seeing her on the balcony, his getting out, going up, her waiting for a drug deal, the antagonism, the police, seeing the struggle, coming in, the fight, the guns, Victor confronting the police, sent show and his anger, David and his fears, trying to keep peace, the gunshot, the arrest, Victor going to jail.
6. Victor in jail, watching the television, David and his injuries, paraplegic, the sports? Victor getting out of jail? Going to the house, cleaning it, settling down?
7. Elena and her marrying David? Care for him? His sensitivities? Her father’s funeral, Victor going to the funeral, speaking to Elena? Her telling David, his angry reaction?
8. Victor studying in jail, education qualification, theological studies, reading and quoting the Bible? His seeing where Elena worked? Employed, his way with children? The encounter with Clara? The irony of the audience knowing who she was, her marriage to Sancho?
9. Victor, wanting sexual prowess, the affair with Clara? Her antagonism towards her husband, his jealousy, violence? His ultimately confronting Victor? Clara and her wanting to leave, the gun, wounding Sancho, his discussions with David, David taking the photos of the encounters between Victor and Clara?
10. David and Elena, respectability, her work at the centre? David and his talking with Victor, antagonism? Elena, evading Victor, finally going to him, the night together, its consequences?
11. The buildup to the confrontation? Touches of violence? The erotic experiences? The future?
