Law of Desire

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Law of Desire

NC-17,

1987,

1h 40m,

Comedy/

LGBTQ+

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Watchlist

100%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When porn director Pablo (Eusebio Poncela) reluctantly breaks up with his boyfriend, Juan (Miguel Molina), he encourages him to stay in touch. Juan moves away to live in a lighthouse and eventually writes his ex, but in the interim Pablo has taken up with a psychotic new lover, Antonio (Antonio Banderas). Antonio intercepts their correspondence and flies into a towering rage, terrifying Pablo, but also inspiring him creatively as he works on a play about his transsexual sister (Carmen Maura).

Critics Consensus

Law of Desire is kinky fun that's as explosively bright and provocative as ever.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Jan 14, 2013

This wild man has a true talent.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

May 4, 2005

B

Almodvar's affection for his characters ... makes his engagingly loopy narrative more than a simple Telemundo-on-acid joke.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

Aug 30, 2004

3/5

What it lacks in depth, 'Law of Desire' makes up in surface energy, with a lively cast, a turbulent plot and a textbook-worthy collection of case histories.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

May 6, 2024

The plot of Law of Desire is positively labyrinthine... It is easy for the audience to lose its way, but I must admit that as soon as the police become involved, momentum does increase to a very exciting pace.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jan 1, 2013

B+

This intriguing erotic melodrama is one of Almodovar's few explicitly gay films.

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Don Willmott

Filmcritic.com

Nov 3, 2009

4/5

a pivotal and unmissable piece of the Almodvar puzzle, a romp that is Pedro at his young and kinky best.

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Harry W

Jul 12, 2018

One of my favorite Almodovars. The simplicity of a murder love story is just a macguffin for so many complex themes here. Uniquely shot and provocative as fuck, maybe one of the most memorable gay romance films ever.

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Hermione M

Mar 12, 2017

Controversial at the time of its release, "Law of Desire" is an intense melodrama centered around a gay love triangle that turns deadly.

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Theodore L

Aug 9, 2015

8.1 [Pedro Almodóvar]

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Pedro Almodóvar

Director

Eusebio Poncela

Pablo Quintero

Carmen Maura

Tina Quintero

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Benítez

Miguel Molina

Juan Bermúdez

Manuela Velasco

Ada, niña

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Synopsis

When porn director Pablo (Eusebio Poncela) reluctantly breaks up with his boyfriend, Juan (Miguel Molina), he encourages him to stay in touch. Juan moves away to live in a lighthouse and eventually writes his ex, but in the interim Pablo has taken up with a psychotic new lover, Antonio (Antonio Banderas). Antonio intercepts their correspondence and flies into a towering rage, terrifying Pablo, but also inspiring him creatively as he works on a play about his transsexual sister (Carmen Maura).

Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Producer: Agustín Almodóvar
Production Co: El Deseo S.A.
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 9, 2017
Runtime: 1h 40m

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