Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya fit into ‘The Skin I Live In’

As the fall continues, the movies must slowly bet getting better.  And coincidentally, in New York and Los Angeles at least, moviegoers will get the chance to sample the latest film from Pedro Almodovar, “The Skin I Live In,” tomorrow.  And while I don’t think the film has any real chances for major Oscar nominations (and neither did the Spanish film committee who passed it over for foreign language film consideration), it’s a twisted and out-there thriller that will shock many ticket buyers looking for something different at the multiplex.

A loose adaptation of Thierry Jonquet’s novel of the same name, “Skin I Live In” centers on a talented and rich plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), who engages in some questionable and illegal surgeries with a “woman” we are first introduced to as Vera (Elena Anaya).  You can argue the film is a “Frankenstein” tale, a revenge tale or a bizarre sexual fantasy, but the one thing most reviewers of “Skin I Live In” will agree on are the strong turns by Antonio Banderas and Spanish actress Elena Anaya (“Talk to Her “) (and probably the impressive production design).

Speaking to both actors late last week, Banderas discussed about his reunion with Almodovar (they last worked together in 1990’s “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!”) and the “god” complex he explored with his character.  You can watch his interview embedded at the top of this post.

The charming Anaya describes “Skin” as a “cold horror” film and talks in-depth on how Vera develops the strength to survive the endless surgeries Ledgard forces upon “her.”  You can watch that conversation embedded below.

For more on “Skin I Live In,” read Drew McWeeny’s review here.


“The Skin I Live In” opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday.

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