Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom

Almodovar's debut feature is predictably also his roughest, crudest, sleaziest, and most tasteless. Even more so than Labyrinth of Passion, one can clearly see the director's lineage from the queer pop-art transgressive tradition of John Waters et el. But even this early on there's something affable and good-natured that feels distinctly Almodovar, as questionable as some of it is. There's also the underlying theme of feminine solidarity that runs throughout his entire filmography.

Top badass moment? The plastic cannabis plant; I liked that scene. The ‘new wave’ dancing in the background at the club is good too, even though no one’s doing anything that seems even remotely connected to the music that’s playing. So, lots of extra bonus points for the authentically terrible clothes, music and vibe, but then it loses most of them as the story’s all a bit random. Also, it’s a surprisingly quaint movie considering its reputation. No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.

The earliest Almodóvar; not particularly slick or well-structured (and the image quality was poor on the copy I saw), but typically him in its focus on strong, realistic female characters and obsession with sexual desires and taboos. The film also offers a key glimpse into the Movida artistic movement and youth attitudes in 80s post-Franco Spain. The narrative style is loose and episodic but somehow this makes the lead character all the more real and endearing. Weak towards the end.

Viewed February 23, 2017.

Early Almodovar is like if John Waters grew up under fascism. Sexually free, yet abusive and callous as if the characters have naturally been shaped by selfishness. Luci, a masochist, is married to a violent rapist in the police force, a trait she simultaneously hates and craves - the mindset of someone who has grown up under a punishing regime. One of the most unique films of the punk era.

What JakeAesthete said.

I give it marks for succeeding in making its edgier stuff so funny but for every couple moments that had me smiling there's one that really grates, in particular a bearded woman who feels the need to annoyingly shriek at the top of her voice. Visually it doesn't look much like Almodovar's later stuff, which is probably appropriate considering this is a more rough affair but still that left me disappointed.

63.000

Perdón, Silvia Oroz.

For die-hard Almodovar fans, definitely worth seeing--his unique personality is already in full evidence in this first film of his to be widely distributed. Yes, most of its low-budget seams are in full evidence, but compensates with moments of outrageous hilarity that no one else would even attempt--he seems to be intent on breaking every taboo he can think of (thank god). It's worth seeing for the lesbian rock star's punk love song to her lover alone.