The Skin I Live In

Name: The Skin I Live In
Genre: Drama
Released: October 14, 2011
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 70

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 162 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 162 Ratings

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The Skin I Live In

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: October 14, 2011 | R

Summary: Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed aEver since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed a further three things: no scruples, an accomplice and a human guinea pig. Scruples were never a problem. Marilia, the woman who looked after him from the day he was born, is his most faithful accomplice. And as for the human guinea pig... Loosely based on Thierry Jonquet's 1995 novel "Mygale." (Sony Pictures Classics)
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Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 117 min

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Critic Reviews

Shawn Levy

Nov 3, 2011

And while it may be true that Almodóvar doesn't have Hitchcock's way with terror, it's not clear that Hitchcock could leave the real world behind so wholly and convincingly as Almodóvar does here. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Nov 3, 2011

By the end of the movie, when all your questions have been answered, you're left with the exhilarating high of having been manipulated by a gifted artist in a diabolically dark mood. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Oct 14, 2011

It all achieves a loony unity by the end, even though what is being unified is not altogether palatable. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Oct 13, 2011

The Skin I Live In is a meditation on profound themes: memory, grief, violence, degradation, and survival - so why does it leave the viewer (at least this one) so curiously unmoved? Watching the parts of this multigenerational melodrama slowly fuse into a coherent (if wackily improbable) whole offers aesthetic and intellectual gratification, but little in the way of emotional punch. Read full review

Mike Scott

Dec 9, 2011

There's plenty of melodrama, plenty of whispered intensity, plenty of dramatic pauses in his story. There also are a few bizarro -- and, in some cases, unnecessary -- detours. But when it's all said and done, there's no real call for any emotional investment on the part of his audience. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Oct 14, 2011

Almodovar makes some missteps in his icky mélange of melodrama and mischief, but the end result is playfully devious. Read full review

David Edelstein

Oct 10, 2011

It's the only Almodóvar movie in which feeling, emotional or sexual, doesn't suffuse the imagery and hold the ramshackle melodrama together. Read full review

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User Reviews

Eleni

Jan 21, 2012

www.unsungfilms.com by Georgia Xanthopoulou
I attended a lecture a while ago about Almodovar and his work. It was a very interesting group of people talking, from a Spanish professor talking about the â

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

kafkanian

Mar 7, 2015

This is a one of a kind movie. Pedro Almodóvar goes to a place that no other director ever dared to. When the plot twist kicks in you'll be mindblown forever. For better or for worse, you will NEVER forget this masterpiece of a movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

fancritic101

Jan 22, 2022

This was a movie that had me in awe as I had no clue that the characters were so interlinked.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Behdabra

Jan 22, 2012

Well, first when i wanted to see this film, according to the critics and the awards which this movie has won, i was sure that i'm going to see a good film, but at the end i was really shocked by how great and fantastic it was, the actors are brilliant, story is interesting, almost unique,Well, first when i wanted to see this film, according to the critics and the awards which this movie has won, i was sure that i'm going to see a good film, but at the end i was really shocked by how great and fantastic it was, the actors are brilliant, story is interesting, almost unique, the characters are believable, and the ending is different. Great Movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Oct 16, 2011

Elena Ayana, as usual, is outstanding in this film as Vera. I was a big fan after her scene-stealing role in Sex & Lucia with Paz Vega - which I also recommend highly. Antonio Banderas does a very solid job in his role as the surgeon who has a very tidy little facility in his home.Elena Ayana, as usual, is outstanding in this film as Vera. I was a big fan after her scene-stealing role in Sex & Lucia with Paz Vega - which I also recommend highly. Antonio Banderas does a very solid job in his role as the surgeon who has a very tidy little facility in his home. There's not much point in delving into the story because just about anything I can describe would spoil something. It's Almodovar at his near-best. However, it's not for everyone. In my theater, about 5% of the crowd walked out before the first half hour expired. Does nobody read reviews (or see trailiers) anymore??… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JollyG87

Dec 15, 2011

In terms of sheer storytelling, there is not a single movie this year that tops "The Skin I Live In." Almodovar expertly reveals the events bit by bit thanks to a series of telling flashbacks. To give you an idea on how he unfolds the story, the most shocking moment has already happened whenIn terms of sheer storytelling, there is not a single movie this year that tops "The Skin I Live In." Almodovar expertly reveals the events bit by bit thanks to a series of telling flashbacks. To give you an idea on how he unfolds the story, the most shocking moment has already happened when the movie begins. It's not until those flashbacks do you realize what is exactly going on. Almodovar's beautiful cinematography perfectly complements the disturbing storyline. When this movie isn't trying to unsettle you, it is devilishly sexy. The performances are also top-notch with Banderas playing against type as a brilliant, but mentally unstable surgeon. The script doesn't do the best at developing its characters, but in this case, the movie's action speaks louder than its words.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tooplanx

Oct 18, 2013

This is a very bizarre movie that has a good idea at its core but is very badly executed. The first half of the movie is bizarre and makes little sense and offers the viewer nothing in the way of explaination of who the characters are and why things are happening. On top of this, theThis is a very bizarre movie that has a good idea at its core but is very badly executed. The first half of the movie is bizarre and makes little sense and offers the viewer nothing in the way of explaination of who the characters are and why things are happening. On top of this, the directing gives the first half a confusing impression: much of it seems like it is meant to be a farce and I was wondering if I was meant to be finding the bizarre antics funny. Only the thing is is that much of it is quite unsettling and contains a disturbingly creepy man who abuses his own mum and then rapes a young woman who has been locked in a room for a very long time. All this leaves the very confused as to what the hell is going on and what direction the movie is going in.

The second half at least begins to explain some of what we have seen in the first half and from that point onwards you can at least look forward to progression and plot development. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of things that still don't make much sense and the viewer is expected to accept some fairly large diversions from logical reality (people do things and react to situations in ways no normal real world person would, along with many other things that don't fit with normal reality).

About 2/3 of the way through you figure out where the movie is going (but still not really WHY) and then it is simply a case of watching the inevitable take place on the screen. The ending is unsatisfying and finishes at a point where there is actually some potential for interesting themes.

I feel I need to qualify my opinion with the fact that I watch many foreign language and independent bizarre films so it is not just the case that I am someone used to very mainstream conventional films.

While everyone has different opinions, I'm amazed that this film gets such universally positive reviews. I can't help feeling that perhaps this has something to do with it being a foreign language film which I think bluffs many pretentious people into thinking it 'must be good cus it's foreign', and if they don't like it they think it's because they don't understand the more 'intellectual' foreign ways. No, it's just not very good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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