Short Summary of “The Skin I Live In”
“The Skin I Live In” is a 2011 Spanish thriller film directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film follows the story of a brilliant but obsessed plastic surgeon named Dr. Robert Ledgard, who has been working for years to develop a new kind of artificial skin that can withstand any kind of damage. His obsession is fueled by the death of his wife, who was badly burned in a car crash. When a young woman named Vera comes into his life, Dr. Ledgard sees her as the perfect subject for his experiments. But as he becomes increasingly consumed by his work, it becomes clear that there is more to the story than meets the eye. The film is a haunting exploration of identity, obsession, and the lengths that people will go to in order to achieve their goals.
12 Fascinating Trivia About the The Skin I Live In
“The Skin I Live In” is a 2011 Spanish psychological thriller film directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Here are some detailed trivia about the movie:
Mygale by Thierry Jonquet
The film is based on the novel “Mygale” by French author Thierry Jonquet. Almodóvar’s adaptation, however, differs significantly from the book.
First Collaboration in 21 Years
The film reunites Almodóvar with Antonio Banderas after a hiatus of over two decades. The two had previously worked together on “Law of Desire” (1987), “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” (1988) and Átame! (1989).
Madrid, Spain
The movie was shot in the summer of 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
Observe the Surgeries
The main character, Dr. Robert Ledgard, is a plastic surgeon who specializes in the creation of a new type of synthetic skin. To prepare for the role, Antonio Banderas visited a plastic surgeon and observed several surgeries.
Controversial Themes
The film was controversial due to its graphic content and themes of rape, incest, and gender identity. It was criticized by some feminist groups for being misogynistic and exploitative.
Cannes, Palme d’Or
The movie was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival but did not win.
Composer: Alberto Iglesias
The film’s composer, Alberto Iglesias, also composed the scores for several other Almodóvar films, including “Talk to Her” (2002) and “Volver” (2006).
Grossing Over $30 Million
The movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $30 million worldwide and receiving positive reviews from critics. It won several awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.
Costume Design
The film’s costume designer, Paco Delgado, created a special latex bodysuit for actress Elena Anaya, who spends much of the film wearing the suit as part of her character’s transformation.
Acting without Tics
Pedro Almodóvar and Antonio Banderas had a discussion after a few days of filming, during which Almodóvar advised Banderas to abandon his usual acting tics. Almodóvar aimed for a restrained character portrayal rather than a typical psycho performance, and he felt that Banderas’ portrayal was veering towards the latter.
Bonsai Tree
In one scene Dr. Ledgard is shown working on a bonsai tree. Bonsai is the art of creating spectacularly twisted dwarf trees, contrary to their natural patterns, by manipulating their nutrition, growing conditions and with ruthless pruning. This mirrors his ongoing experiment with Vera.
Agustin Almodovar
The man that goes to the dress shop to bring his wife’s garments, is Agustín Almodóvar, producer of the film and brother of Pedro Almodóvar.
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Last modified: July 8, 2023
