Skin I Live In

There are fewer sweeter things than when you get to see a film totally blind. As in, you haven't seen any trailers, read any reviews and have only seen a poster or two which give you absolutely no indication as to what the film is about.

Add to that that it's a film by Pedro Almodóvar and stars Antonio Banderas and you know that you are in for a treat.

Surgeon Robert Ledgard (Banderas) has created a skin which can be used to treat burn victims and is much tougher than human skin. When announcing to the scientific community this discovery, he claims that he has tested the skin on mice, when he is holding a young woman Vera (Elena Anaya) captive and testing the skin on her.

The story uses various flashbacks to explain the kidnapping of Vera and the subsequent changing of her appearance. We also find out about Ledgard's past, in particular his relationships with his wife and daughter which both end tragically and are the crux that leads Ledgard to kidnap Vera.

As you would expect from Almodóvar, the story is not simple and there are many tangents, twists and surprises within the 120 minute film. For example there are revelations about Ledgard's parentage and relations that he is not aware of. But I don't want to give away any of the key elements of the film, as it would ruin it for those who haven't seen it yet.

This is a fantastic film; rich in colour, music and story. There are moments of comedy, genuine heartbreak and an overriding theme of the macabre. All of the actors are excellent, with Banderas giving an outstanding, commanding performance, clearly relishing the opportunity to show just how great an actor he is (I was struggling to think of a recent good film that Banderas has been in - a search on Wikipedia revealed that his last few films have been in relation to the Shrek franchise).

Verdict: A stunning film, which is a very strong contender for my film of the year. A masterclass by Almodóvar in how to create a tense, clever, visually beautiful thriller without resorting to unnecessary violence or cliche. 

Superb performances by all involved and an absolute delight to have watched it. But, be warned, make sure you go to the film with all your wits about you.