The first Spanish film ever chosen to open the Cannes Film Festival, Bad Education marked the return of Almodóvar to the darker tone of his late-1980s output with this noir-inflected tale of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, transsexuality, and murder.

Film director Enrique (Fele Martínez) is searching for his next project when he is approached by Ignacio (Gael García Bernal), his childhood friend and first love, who has written a short story he believes would make a good film. The story is an account of their early years, and the abuse experienced by Ignacio, concluding with an imagining of their reunion as adults. Intrigued, Enrique decides to film the tale, only to find that little is as it seems. Expertly constructed (and performed), the film is one of Almodóvar’s finest.

The IFI’s Focus on Pedro Almodóvar runs at the IFI from April 2nd to 24th. We are delighted to host a preview of Pedro Almodóvar’s new film I’m So Excited followed by a satellite Q&A with the director on April 23rd at 18.30. I’m So Excited opens at the IFI on May 3rd.