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Bad Education

NC-17 Released Mar 19, 2004 1h 44m Drama Crime LGBTQ+ List
88% Tomatometer 149 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When an old friend brings filmmaker Enrique Goded (Fele Martínez) a semi-autobiographical script chronicling their adolescence, Enrique is forced to relive his youth spent at a Catholic boarding school. Weaving through past and present, the script follows a transvestite performer (Gael García Bernal) who reconnects with a grade school sweetheart. Spurred on by this chance encounter, the character reflects on her childhood sexual victimization and the trauma of closeting her sexual orientation.
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Critics Consensus

A layered, wonderfully-acted, and passionate drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Will Self London Evening Standard The problem with the film is its very staginess -- it never really seems to get out of drag. Between the impersonations of the priesthood, the impersonations of the transvestites and the impersonations of the actors themselves, there is little to choose. Jan 9, 2018 Full Review Alan A. Stone Sight & Sound If Americans are allowed to see this film they may well conclude that the mature Almodvar is now ready to take his place alongside the great Buuel. Jun 18, 2012 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Like a Chinese box, it has layers under layers, fictions within fictions. A mystery and an intricate triangular love story, it's also a tale about storytelling itself, the uses of art and artifice to make the unbearable bearable. Nov 1, 2007 Full Review Dave Giannini InSession Film La Mala Educacion is a tremendous film that ranks high not only in 2004 but in Almodovar’s filmography. Feb 20, 2024 Full Review Carson Timar ClapperCast There is a lot of value here, I like the conversations on performance and repression, but there was just something here that was missing for me. Jan 20, 2024 Full Review Darren Frei Out Magazine [Almodóvar manipulates] reality into a passionate, masterful orchestration that begs an encore viewing. May 25, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lucas A A narrative with layers and layers that are revealed as the film progresses, taking on a dark, dense way towards the end. Although the plot is labyrinthine, there is attention to many details that allow it to be read correctly. It plays a lot with the molding of the characters' personalities, and although one does not feel particularily emotionally trapped with them, intrigue and disturbance do come into play. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/24 Full Review Jerod S With a thick plot and bizarre characters woven into the corruption of the church, bad education is a doozy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Crocodilo Russo de Combate confused, passionate, surprising Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/27/23 Full Review Rosana B Eu compreendo, não tem nada mais broxante do que o cara dormir enquanto você está chupando o p** dele, kkkk, pobre Gael García (Zahara)... Há tempos quero assistir esse filme, provavelmente por conta disso criei uma expectativa enorme, esperava mais, superestimado, em alguns momentos lento, o plot Twist foi o melhor, mas surtiu menos efeito que o esperado, Gael está lindo, o desenvolvimento arrastado, personagens pouco cativantes tornaram o menos envolventes... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/02/22 Full Review colin m ("La Mala Educacion"/"Bad Education") (Spanish with subtitles) Not very enjoyable. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review robert p For certain reasons, I cannot give this movie a higher rating, it was a bit overlong and a bit uneven even though the acting was unique. This is what goes to show that a gay movie can be great! For the entertainment factor, I give this movie a *4* star rating!!!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis When an old friend brings filmmaker Enrique Goded (Fele Martínez) a semi-autobiographical script chronicling their adolescence, Enrique is forced to relive his youth spent at a Catholic boarding school. Weaving through past and present, the script follows a transvestite performer (Gael García Bernal) who reconnects with a grade school sweetheart. Spurred on by this chance encounter, the character reflects on her childhood sexual victimization and the trauma of closeting her sexual orientation.
Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Producer
Agustín Almodóvar, Pedro Almodóvar
Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Canal+ España, El Deseo S.A., Televisión Española (TVE)
Rating
NC-17 (Explicit Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama, Crime, LGBTQ+
Original Language
European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 19, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.2M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
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