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Live flesh (Carne trémula)

Threat advisory: Guarded - General risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Life, love, desire... and everything in between.

Written and directed by Spanish visionary Pedro Almodóvar, based on the novel by Ruth Rendell, Live flesh (Carne trémula) is a sensual thriller about the vagaries of chance, guilt and destiny.

When he is sent to jail for a crime he didn't commit, Victor Plaza (Liberto Rabal) unknowingly becomes a catalyst in the lives of the two cops, philandering wife and diplomat's daughter who put him there. Seven years later he emerges still in his 20s and full of promise, yet haunted by anger at the years he lost. But instead of revenge he finds redemption, while the other players learn through their contact with Victor that hope cannot be smothered and redemption doesn't come cheap.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film Spain Spanish thriller ex-con love

Persons of interest

Javier Bardem .... David
Francesca Neri .... Elena
Liberto Rabal .... Víctor Plaza
Ángela Molina .... Clara
José Sancho .... Sancho
Penélope Cruz .... Isabel Plaza Caballero
Pilar Bardem .... Doña Centro de Mesa
Álex Angulo .... Conductor
Mariola Fuentes .... Clementina
Yael Be .... Chica
Josep Molins .... Josep
Daniel Lanchas .... Conductor
María Rosenfeldt .... Niñ
Ruth Rendell .... Author
Jorge Guerricaechevarría .... Screenwriter
Ray Loriga .... Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar .... Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

NB: Spanish language dialogue with English language subtitles

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Well, I saw everything that the propaganda promised, but I felt that things got a little lost, as if the plot didn't quite know where it was going.

Although the film was rich with violence, blood, lust, bonking, and stuff, it doesn't make the leap that Pulp fiction did for Quentin Tarantino. I was a tad disappointed. you might not be, because it's an interesting tale but I got hit by that demon of all critics: I could've done it better!

Media intelligence (DVD)

Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Languages: Spanish
Picture: Widescreen
Special features:

Trailers: Theatrical

Subtitles: English

Security censorship classification

MA 15+ (High level sex scenes, adult themes)

Surveillance time

97 minutes (1:37 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 16 July 1998
DVD retail: 25 January 2006