Almovodar, best known in this country for his epic screwball drama "All About My Mother" (last year's Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film), creates in "Live Flesh" a chilling yet vibrant cycle of betrayal, lust and revenge. It is chilling because, as in the film noir classics which act as Almovodar's obvious inspiration, fate is an inevitable and tragic force, punishing even the most sympathetic characters for their sins. It is vibrant because, like "All About My Mother," it displays Almovodar's penchant for flamboyant camera work and coincidence-heavy melodrama.
Set in Madrid, the film opens with Elena (Francesca Neri), a heroin addict, fending off the passionate yet unstable Victor (Liberto Rabal), a young man with whom she has had a one- night stand.
The situation escalates into violence, and two cops come in to investigate. David (Bardem) is cool as a cucumber, but his alcoholic hothead partner, Sancho (Jose Sancho), attacks Victor; David is shot and paralyzed in the en suing melee.
Flash to six years later: Victor is out of jail and determined to win back Elena and get his revenge on David, who is now an international wheelchair basketball champion. Victor begins an affair with Sancho's wife, Clara (Angela Molina), and through her he learns the complicated, hidden story behind David's shooting.
Bardem's David is a marvel of wounded, macho pride, and watching "Live Flesh" alongside "Before Night Falls" shows the range of a gifted actor.
Fans of "All About My Mother" should enjoy this film. "Live Flesh," in my view, is actually a superior film, with a tighter plot and more grounded performances. (In Spanish with English subtitles.)