I've watched quite a few Almodóvar films
recently, and have been least impressed by this film. It has
many effective elements and praiseworthy qualities, but as a
whole film it lacks the overall vision I have come to expect
from the director.
Law of Desire is the story of Pablo (Eusebio
Poncela), an acclaimed director and homosexual, whose romantic
exploits threaten to ruin his life. When he breaks off a long
relationship with Juan (Miguel Molina) he is quickly pursued
by the much younger Antonio (Antonio Banderas). Pablo's inability
to commit to any single lover causes problems for himself, Jaun,
Antonio and his transsexual sister Tina (Carmen Maura).
The strongest element of the film is its ability
to depict the uncontrollability of desire, and the overpowering
nature of attraction. At the start of the film, Pablo is completely
in love with Juan, who can neither give him what he needs, and
who can't make himself return the love. Antonio has never had
a homosexual experience, but is insatiably drawn to Pablo, to
the extent that he becomes obsessed and crazy over him, yet
Pablo doesn't see this attraction as parallel to his own for
Juan. Almodóvar uses many of his films to investigate
certain aspects of sex and love, but often fails to present
any clear findings. Law of Desire is one of the few
such films wherein I feel that his experiment was successful,
even if the film as a whole is not.
Unfortunately, many elements of the film leave
it quite dated, from the fashion, to the music, and the prevalent
and casual cocaine use. Though the film could potentially be
one of the most autobiographical of Almodóvar's career,
it's also one of the most overtly comedic, which works against
the dramatic themes of the picture.
In all, Law of Desire is an important
piece of a complex career, and one of the few in Almodóvar's
canon that focus almost exclusively on gay sex (Bad Education
being the other I have seen to date.) The sex scenes in the
film are erotic, though not plentiful or graphic enough to warrant
the NC-17 rating the film received. It's an interesting experience,
and worth seeing if you can find it.
