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Bad Education

Bad Education

2004
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 46m
In the early 60s, two boys - Ignacio and Enrique - discover love, movies and fear in a Christian school. Father Manolo, the school principal and Literature teacher, both witnesses and takes part in these discoveries. The three characters come against one another twice again, in the late 70s and in 1980. These meetings are set to change the life and death of some of them. (Club Cultura)

Directed by:

Pedro Almodóvar

Screenwriter:

Pedro Almodóvar

Starring:

Gael García Bernal, Fele Martínez, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Lluís Homar, Javier Cámara, Petra Martínez, Nacho Pérez, Raúl García Forneiro, Leonor Watling

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller

AKA:

La Mala Educación

Country:

Spain

Languages:

Spanish, Latin
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Bad Education

2004
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 46m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 60.5% from 2338 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 29 Dec 2008
7
68th
It is really impressed with its own cleverness. It's too complicated for its own good on first viewing and it takes way too long to get going. The last 50 or so minutes are incredible and I wish the rest of the film was as good as those. Not Almodovar's best work but still an interesting viewing.
Rated 29 Dec 2008
donezodonezo
Rated 21 Apr 2008
94
85th
Trademark Almodovar soapiness with a film noir flair. Not his best work, but still pretty great. Gael Garcia Bernal's stellar work is reason enough to make this required viewing.
Rated 21 Apr 2008
corbadCorbad
Rated 15 Jul 2023
80
79th
A careful and colourful study of relationship, regret, and art. The twist, when it comes, is powerful - the curious epilogue less so. Terrifically performed. (Being so central to everything, I wonder if the childhood relationship should have been given more time; it felt insubstantial and not worth the lifetime of pining.)
Rated 15 Jul 2023
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 27 Oct 2015
85
82nd
I watched this film literally a day or two after I met Bernal on the shoot for Rosewater, and now this is my first Almodóvar, I am pleased. It's a masterwork
Rated 27 Oct 2015
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 02 Aug 2012
3
45th
There's so much to digest here. A movie about movies, blurring the lines of reality and identity, mixed up gender roles, a condemnation of corrupt religion, and a Hitchcockian tale of obsession. It's a little ridiculous that this film received an NC-17 rating, presumably for the homoerotic sex scenes which, by any other standard (i.e. if they involved a straight couple) are pretty tame. There is no nudity (other than some man ass) and no violence.
Rated 02 Aug 2012
qvtQVT
Rated 16 May 2009
85
88th
I'm aware that this is supposed to be a bad Almodovar or something. I enjoyed it almost completely. It was an 80 on its own merits and I added five points for that stunning pink behind the impersonator. I look forward to the better received Almodovars, and the Godard comparisons are not lost.
Rated 16 May 2009
djrossdjross
Rated 08 Jun 2008
55
53rd
The characters were not interesting enough to sustain attention for the duration, despite the visual and auditory pleasures of the film.
Rated 08 Jun 2008
kavuKavu
Rated 04 Jan 2008
77
60th
A bold movie with a very interesting story structure and good acting. Takes a bit too long to really get going though.
Rated 04 Jan 2008
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 30 Aug 2007
83
77th
Excellent movie with a kind of film noir mindset. I love how Almodovar peels back layer after layer of identity. This is really dark for him, though, and lacks much of the warmth that makes his film sparkle. Gael Garcia Bernal is fearless, and awesome.
Rated 30 Aug 2007
idiot27000idiot27000
Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
73rd
This movie will leave your head spinning- in a good way.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
vince_leoVince Leo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
74th
For those with open minds about the material, Almodovar keeps us riveted to the proceedings with gusto, and while it may not be his best work, it is still quite evident that a true master of his own genre is at play, causing us to think about what roles and identity actually are, and then he pulls the rug out and we rethink them again.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
st_bernaSt. Berna
Rated 22 Dec 2022
90
91st
Almodovar izlemeye kendimce yanlış filmlerden başlamışım. Yıllarca beklettiğim, ve sonra üç gün arka arkaya izlediğim 3 filmi (Women on the verge of.. , Live Flesh ve Bad Education) en sevdiğim filmleri oldu. Bence Almodovar'ın iyisiyle kötüsüyle dolu, kalabalık ve istikrarsız filmografisinin en iyi filmleri bunlar.
Rated 22 Dec 2022
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 29 Apr 2022
73
63rd
Watched in 35mm in a double feature with Almodóvar's All About My Mother at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Comes up short in certain areas while being incredibly strong in other areas. The ending left me cold, and the noir elements didn't land for me. There's one shot where the two kids are going down the street, and an extra carrying a baby passes in the opposite direction, and that baby straight-up punches one of the kids in the face as it passes.
Rated 29 Apr 2022
overratedoverrated
Rated 20 Jan 2022
55
56th
Gael Garcia Bernal makes a fantastic drag queen.
Rated 20 Jan 2022
larmorlarmor
Rated 06 Jan 2022
62
54th
I'm a sucker for movies within movies, but gosh, I hate Almodóvar's aesthetics.
Rated 06 Jan 2022
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
65
32nd
8?????????????????????????????
Rated 06 Aug 2021
margustaMargusTa
Rated 20 Feb 2021
75
71st
Probably everyone knows who Pedro Almodovar is. And when his making movies then how good they are. This is also great movie which contains Director's autobiographical events. Movie has also strong gay topic present.
Rated 20 Feb 2021
caspiancaspian
Rated 06 Oct 2020
90
87th
delicious archetypical twists and turns, every shot is beautiful
Rated 06 Oct 2020
timon88Timon88
Rated 25 Sep 2017
71
66th
Almodóvar is the John Waters of Spain--after some strikingly original movies early in his career, he sold out and went mainstream, and has only rarely made anything that even comes close to his early stuff, and this is no exception. Still, slickly-made and entertaining.
Rated 25 Sep 2017
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 31 Jan 2017
60
10th
Viewed January 30, 2017.
Rated 31 Jan 2017
francogonzoFrancoGonzo
Rated 21 Feb 2016
15
82nd
Star Rating: ★★★★
Rated 21 Feb 2016
hsncrspywlhsncrspywl
Rated 16 Dec 2014
95
95th
Loved the narrative structure, though it does take a turn for the expository by the end. That said I was hooked on the noir mystery which unravels quite naturally, at a good pace, with amazing performances. The color of the film is keeping with Almodovar's style so I enjoyed that too, especially with the juxtaposition of a pretty grim story.
Rated 16 Dec 2014
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 03 Dec 2014
82
88th
(2nd viewing, 1st:70)
Rated 03 Dec 2014
kalichan88kalichan88
Rated 20 Sep 2014
80
82nd
Great story telling with suspense. I really liked the cinematography with nostalgic feeling.
Rated 20 Sep 2014
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
Rated 23 Jul 2014
69
68th
Probably Almodovar's most narratively complex and certainly darkest and most serious film. Unfortunately "dark" and "serious" aren't necessarily what i love about Almodovar, so i miss a lot of the campy humor from his earlier films. That said, it's still beautifully shot as always, and the nesting doll-like nonlinear narrative is almost Egoyan-esque in it's density. It's also intertextual enough to show Almodovar's postmodern side, as well as being a good showcase for his love of melodrama.
Rated 23 Jul 2014
ocelotOcelot
Rated 07 Jul 2014
75
81st
I was worried the metanarratives could come across as gimmicky, but they work perfectly, with the depths of the story mirroring the depths of secrets and lies of the major players. Additionally interesting is Almodovar making a film solely about men after a number of films focusing on women. I had more to write, but still, great stuff.
Rated 07 Jul 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 05 Oct 2013
81
68th
80.500
Rated 05 Oct 2013
nepetaNepeta
Rated 21 May 2013
70
44th
The film dips in and out of the neo-noir genre delivering an interesting mystery driven by a main character which is about as bland as they come. It uses colours quite enjoyably - at times its a tad garish but it is always very visually arresting. There were a couple moments that didn't work for me stylistically like the locations titles which occur far too infrequently to not be offputting (as compared to Talk to Her where they feel entirely natural) when they appear.
Rated 21 May 2013
cinesexualcinesexual
Rated 22 Dec 2012
76
57th
Candy-colored noir, with some heavy-breathing, but it still struck me as rather cold.
Rated 22 Dec 2012
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 20 Sep 2012
79
38th
Disturbing, well done drama, but the characters were too unpleasant for me.
Rated 20 Sep 2012
derdudeDerDude
Rated 23 Mar 2012
6
46th
Touches on many interesting concepts, but is just too messy to really explore them. Nevertheless Almodovar knows how to entertain with his pulpy extremes.
Rated 23 Mar 2012
damildamil
Rated 18 Jan 2012
65
54th
I didn't know what to make of this film at the beginning, but by the end, I thought it was great. It started off like a typical movie where adult characters reflect on their childhood, but became a mystery and by the end, was pretty much a film-noir. Overall, it wasn't what I expected, but I enjoyed it.
Rated 18 Jan 2012
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 02 Jan 2012
98
95th
Staggering, mind-bending melodrama which layers it multiple plot lines so cleverly and deviously that it is easy to forget how little sense it ultimately makes. The performances and the style are the key aspects here; Bernal, Martinez and Cacho are equally terrific and Almodovar borrows heavily from Hitchcock (especially VERTIGO) to create a unique, haunting dream-like experience. Deals with confronting subject matter in disarmingly light-hearted ways, without losing its impact. A masterpiece.
Rated 02 Jan 2012
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 11 Dec 2011
73
70th
A strongly Aldomovarish storytelling. The fist half was a bit sluggish, though the latter half of the story was very well done. Gael García Bernal was better as a girl than as a boy and Lluís Homar was a fine choice.
Rated 11 Dec 2011
afx237viafx237vi
Rated 05 Sep 2011
55
43rd
Sex and religion; the two things that mess you up more than anything else. The message is clear, but the story that delivers it is anything but. The characters are painted with too broad a brush, and they remain largely unsympathetic throughout. Furthermore, their motivations become more and more obtuse as the film progresses, until it ends with those totally underwhelming title cards telling us what happens next. It feels like a film that has substance, it just doesn't know what to do with it.
Rated 05 Sep 2011
sedalandsedaland
Rated 02 Sep 2011
90
53rd
when Gael Garcia Bernal is in, every movie tastes good.
Rated 02 Sep 2011
rufamRufam
Rated 12 Jul 2011
75
72nd
No one but Almodóvar himself could take this ridiculously intricate soap opera and turn it into a fully enjoyable film noir. "La Mala Educación" starts slow, but once the multiple layers of identities begin to unwrap, it becomes fascinating viewing. Bernal is truly the real thing, a fearless actor, and the rest of the cast is also excellent. The whole thing is just typical Almodóvar: the colors are bright, the tension is high and the story gracefully mixes the campy with the brilliant.
Rated 12 Jul 2011
onuryasaronuryasar
Rated 19 Mar 2011
95
98th
one of almodovar's best.
Rated 19 Mar 2011
venicevenice
Rated 25 Feb 2011
54
15th
Disappointing stuff.
Rated 25 Feb 2011
frnk23frnk23
Rated 13 Jan 2011
60
44th
some plot/dialogue issues, the lighter being the most grating
Rated 13 Jan 2011
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 25 Nov 2010
40
97th
"Almodóvar's canvas-like that of another hot-blooded drama queen, Federico García Lorca-is one of uncensored emotion and pure energy." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 25 Nov 2010
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 18 Nov 2010
8
79th
My first Almodóvar outing. While I wasn't sure at the start, from the halfway point I was sold. Originally only watched it for Bernal too (who again does not disappoint).
Rated 18 Nov 2010
mr_filmMr. Film
Rated 25 Jul 2010
89
70th
Almodovar creates one of the great Spanish films
Rated 25 Jul 2010
rachelmoviesRachelmovies
Rated 08 Jun 2010
75
71st
While I thought there were many well-done aspects of the film, I felt that there was something missing. I can't pinpoint what (I was taken in by the unique plot, interesting characters, and impressive acting), I didn't really know how to react when I finished the movie. I think some of the director's other films are more focused and controlled. Props for originality, though.
Rated 08 Jun 2010
telemecusTelemecus
Rated 28 May 2010
57
68th
not one of the best Almodovars - but saying that for his later works is still praise. The gay scene and transvestism are themes in other Almodovar films - but this one has nothing else. I found other Almodovars with a rich selection of topics to be superior.
Rated 28 May 2010
sumanaustinsuman.austin
Rated 30 Apr 2010
76
49th
A pretty bold movie which depicts the ill effects of religious schooling. Great acting by Gael Bernal he makes it up even though there are almost no women in this movie.
Rated 30 Apr 2010
kmcneilKMcNeil
Rated 22 Feb 2010
5
43rd
I halfway suspect that Almodóvar is just a director who I'll never fully understand. His penchant for melodrama, excessive situations and over-the-top dialogue that doesn't ring true in my ears firmly removes it from the land of cinema and reaffirms it as spectacle. Granted, interesting spectacle, but never really something that moves me narratively or aesthetically.
Rated 22 Feb 2010
katje_iikatje_
Rated 05 Sep 2009
83
77th
Good. Melodramatically good.
Rated 05 Sep 2009
djembadjemba
Rated 27 Aug 2009
87
90th
Excellent emotional scale as well as problematical script. The heavy performance of problem with pressure on Catholic side. Ably mixed.
Rated 27 Aug 2009
fantacbobFantacBob
Rated 10 Jun 2009
63
52nd
Two boys discover love, movies and fear in a Christian school.
Rated 10 Jun 2009
nanaramaNanarama
Rated 03 May 2009
80
71st
Not my favorite Almodovar film, but interesting nonetheless.
Rated 03 May 2009
emredostemredost
Rated 05 Apr 2009
96
92nd
I liked it very affecting story
Rated 05 Apr 2009
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 10 Sep 2008
81
75th
Not Almodovar's finest effort, but the web it creates is disturbing, potent and deeply heartfelt.
Rated 10 Sep 2008
cinemahellcinema_hell
Rated 06 May 2008
45
7th
The basic plot reminds me of Les Amitiés Particulières.
Rated 06 May 2008
roujinroujin
Rated 13 Apr 2008
60
55th
Probably my least favorite Almodovar film that I've seen but as always there is something to treasure. This time around it's the unexpected shift into film noir territory. It works but just barely.
Rated 13 Apr 2008
harukoHaruko
Rated 20 Mar 2008
72
54th
Beautiful use of colour (as usual), García Bernal is goergeous and brilliant (as usual) but not a favortie Almodovar.
Rated 20 Mar 2008
johannaJohanna
Rated 03 Feb 2008
85
78th
Sensitive, intelligent
Rated 03 Feb 2008
lookinglandLookingLand
Rated 16 Nov 2007
0
5th
horrid film.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
mdagdaganmdagdagan
Rated 17 Oct 2007
81
62nd
Love me some Almodovar. This was so twisted & wild.
Rated 17 Oct 2007
beneBene
Rated 31 Aug 2007
47
16th
Seems to consider itself far more important and meaningful than it is
Rated 31 Aug 2007
weirdyodaweirdyoda
Rated 26 Aug 2007
78
55th
..Very...Almodovar, except...not...since there are almost no women in this whole movie. It's pretty interesting. Somewhere between Adaptation, Velvet Goldmine, and Talk to Her you might find this film. Gotta love Pedro's use of color though, so beautiful.
Rated 26 Aug 2007
staypuftStay_Puft
Rated 14 Aug 2007
74
80th
Hooray for Pedro Almodovar.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
92nd
This second wave of Almodovar that really started with All About My Mother has its first complete, unreserved triumph with this film. Almodovar plays out his complex storylines with a sure hand. There are no backsteps into the sort of fussy, in-your-face, crude digressions that marred some earlier films that were otherwise quite strong. And Gael Garcia Bernal is extremely good in a central role that requires him to cover a lot of ground.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
citysqwirlcitysqwirl
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
99th
So complex and gorgeous . . . with layers of truth and fiction and reality mixing with the messiness of love, loneliness, desire, and nostalgic memory. Love it.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
daniellanDaniellaN
Rated 14 Aug 2007
71
41st
Weird, but cute movie with the hunk from Motorcycle Diaries as a transvestite.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
boobjuiceBoobjuice
Rated 24 Jul 2007
83
84th
A cool, sexy, strange story.
Rated 24 Jul 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
70
82nd
Very good.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 12 Dec 2006
64
15th
Not too bad. It was an improvement over Almodovar's previous two films but it doesn't quite strike the balance it's looking for in my mind.
Rated 12 Dec 2006

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