Live Flesh [Carne Trémula] **** (1997, Liberto Rabal, Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Ángela Molina, José Sancho, Penélope Cruz) – Classic Movie Review 3581

Spanish writer-director Pedro Almodóvar‘s sexy and thrilling 1997 12th feature film Live Flesh, or Carne Trémula in Spanish (literally ‘trembling flesh’), is a romantic drama thriller starring Liberto Rabal, Javier Bardem, and Francesca Neri. Almodóvar again successfully flirts with and riffs on the thriller form, as the film is loosely based on Ruth Rendell’s book Live Flesh, turning it into his own thing, with his own personal obsessions.

The film won a 1998 Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor (José Sancho).

The cast are Javier Bardem as David, Francesca Neri as Elena, Liberto Rabal as Victor Plaza, Ángela Molina as Clara, José Sancho as Sancho, Penélope Cruz as Isabel Plaza Caballero, Pilar Bardem as Doña Centro, Álex Angulo as Conductor del autobús, Mariola Fuentes as Clementina, Yael Be as Chica, Josep Molins as Josep and Maria Rosenfeldt as Niña.

Another gay film-maker François Ozon has also adapted a novel by Ruth Rendell. After premiering at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival, the double 40th César Award nominated The New Girlfriend [Une nouvelle amie] was released in 2015. Ozon’s playful and camp subversion of gender dynamics must certainly have appealed to Almodóvar. It could almost have been made by him.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3581

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