Review: The Skin I live in

Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Writers: Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay), Thierry Jonquet (novel)

Stars: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Jan Cornet

'The Skin I live in' is perverse medical B-movie horror noir; provocative and shockingly sincere. The film's non-linear structure and pacing constantly elude the viewer, slowly drawing back the tapestry on a queasy and horrifying denouement.

Dr Robert Lesgard (Antonio Banderas) is a renowned surgeon whose research attempts at a breakthrough in the field of synthetic skin creation. His human guinea pig is a beautiful woman named Vera (Elena Anaya); a subject contained within his home, and cared for by his head servant Marilia (Marisa Paredes). The narrative (shifting from present to past and back again) extrapolates the nature of the relationship between Vera and Lesgard and the motivating factors behind the Doctor's actions.

Towering over much of the film, Banderas' Lesgard is a frightening figure; one exercising tight manipulation over his subjects (his sinister-ness is fully revealed when you stop linking 'Puss in Boots' to his voice). Anaya's Vera is imperceptible but engaging (thanks to a beguiling performance) from the outset. The 'sadness behind her eyes' slowly becomes the main point of exploration for the film's narrative.

Delightfully, Almodóvar masterfully controls our perception of plot direction. This is achieved through the film's pacing. Early on, we experience what feels like the main plot's climax- something which later reveals itself to be subplotting. There does come the point where the direction of the film's 'twist' becomes apparent to the viewer. The scale of its horror, however, might still very well leave you in denial.


Rating: 3/5