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Nymphomaniac rockstar Sexilia is the daughter of a gynaecologist
who is treating the wife of an Arab ruler. The Arab's bisexual
son Riza falls for Sexilia and disguises himself as a rockstar
to hide from Sadec, a charismatic terrorist, who's out to
kill him. Meanwhile, laundry worker Queti is the victim of
her fathers continual abuse but she dreams of her idol Sexilia,
who one day turns up in the shop. They instantly bond and
decide to team up to fight back and live the life they want...
Labyrinth of Passion (Laberinto de Pasiones,
1982) was directed by flamboyant Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.
The film was nominated for a Fotogramas de Plata for Best
Movie Actor for Imanol Arias and Best Movie Actress for Marta
Fernandez Muro. Almodovar would go on to direct the more impressive
Matador (1986). Labyrinth of Passion is notable
for one of the first appearances of Antonio Banderas, who
plays Sadec.
The
freedom, which the post Franco period afforded Almodovar,
seems to have little better to do than attempt to place on
the screen as many shocking images and language as he can
possibly think of. Lots of Labyrinth but very little Passion.
There is little in the way of underlying narrative, just a
collection of oddballs whose lives intersect. As such there
is no character development and apart from the joy of watching
a freak show, there is little in the way of pleasure to be
had from the film.
I suppose that it will appeal to fans of Punk inspired films,
as it certainly has that anarchic feel to it, not surprising
really as the film is an outgrowth of the La Movida Madrileña
(The Madrid Movement), which explored the hedonism and drug
taking that followed Spain's economic growth.
Cecilia Roth, as Sexilia, and Imanol Arias, as Riza, do what
they can with such a limited range, but then the film does
not really require much in the way of acting ability. As well
as Banderas, Almodovar, himself appears in the film in a skirt
- well you can't say the man didn't have the courage of his
convictions.
The disc contains little in the way of extras save for the
original theatrical trailer. You get the option of English
subtitles for the clear Spanish audio track. The print has,
shall we say, seen better days, with obvious artefacts and
a cheap grainy look to the anamorphic widescreen film.
Overall, it's a watch once only experience, which really hasn't
stood the test of time.
Charles
Packer
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