The Skin I Live In
by eusebiusandflorestan
After traveling more than 7000 kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean accompanied by various delays and disasters, I am suffering the jet lag of all time. When experiencing jet lag, exposure to sunlight during the day is recommended in order for the body to adjust to the new time zone. Being close to the Arctic Circle late December, following this advice is certainly not easy! Even though I landed four days ago, I woke up today at 3 am feeling wide awake. Due to heavy storming, there has been power cut for some 50 000 households, and in my village there is still no electricity. In order not to get depressed in the dark, I spent early morning watching Pedro Almodóvar’s new movie ‘The Skin I Live In’. I love Almodóvar’s movies, and this beautiful thriller/drama is no exception.
The protagonist, surgeon Robert Ledgard, is played by Antonio Banderas. Banderas started his career acting for Almodóvar during the eighties in movies such as ‘Law of Desire’ and ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’. My impression, being far from an expert on the topic, is that Banderas since that time spent the last 20 years featuring in Hollywood productions of.. various qualities. It warms my heart he is back with Almodóvar.
The movie is set in contemporary Toledo. Dr Ledgard has been obsessed by skin ever since his wife suffered from severe burns and subsequently died as a result of a car crash. It is Ledgard’s belief that a person who experiences skin injuries needs a new skin, especially a new face, in order to maintain his or her identity. Identity is hence highly connected to looks, shaped by the way a person is seen by others. Ledgard has determinedly created an artificial skin resistant to exogenous injuries such as burns and insect bites. Unscrupulously, Ledgard uses a real human being as a guinea pig for his experiments. This person is kept prisoner in his fancy home, and the two have a complicated and interesting relationship of mutual attraction and hate.
As usual in movies by Almodóvar, there is a nice, unexpected intrigue, complex characters and transsexual undertones. Even though several of his movies are quite similar and it is easy to recognize the director’s style, I do not seem to get tired of it. Perhaps this is due to his unconventional style with lots of randomness that I find refreshing, stimulating and hopeful. Especially when it comes to the nature of sexuality, I think Almodóvar offers a nice contrast to the mainstream portrayal.
Have you seen any Almodóvar movies, Eusebius? If yes, did you like it/them?
eusebiusandflorestan 
Great review Florestan! Love your description of the Bandaras ovre. I also find the depiction of sexuality very interesting in Almodóvar’s movies. However, my favorite of his is Volver, which is more sort of a feminist ghost story. I really loved the acting and use of setting in that one, and since I generally like his movies, I’ll be sure to check this one out, given your positive view!
Still unsure if I should see this one, I want to for its cinematic merits yet it just does not seem like my type!
Good review!