Law of Desire **** (1987, Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Miguel Molina, Eusebio Poncela) – Classic Movie Review 3570

Writer-director Pedro Almodóvar’s amusingly provocative 1987 Spanish comedy drama about two male lovers and the sex-change sister (Carmen Maura) of one of them is a highly animated and deliciously extravagant movie.

Eusebio Poncela stars as Pablo, who writes and directs plays and films. He is gay and deep in unrequited love for Juan (Miguel Molina). Pablo’s men-hating transsexual sibling Tina (Carmen Maura) is raising Ada (Manuela Velasco) while trying to make it as an actress. Pablo takes up with Antonio (Antonio Banderas), who, fed up with Pablo’s passion for Juan, takes up with Tina.

This most unusual, lesser-known film from the ultra-talented Spanish cult favourite director  is consistently offbeat, funny and touching.

Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Eusebio Poncela, Miguel Molina, Helga Liné, Nacho Martínez, Manuela Velasco, Fernando Guillén and Bibi Andersen [Bibiana Fernández] lead a clutch of eye-catching performances and the movie is vigorously and entertainingly handled by Almodóvar.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3570

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