Bad Education

NC-17

Now Playing

1 hr. 44 min.

Drama

Crime

LGBTQ+

List

88%

149 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

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colin m

("La Mala Educacion"/"Bad Education") (Spanish with subtitles) Not very enjoyable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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

Audience Member

Wonderfully plotted 'Bad Education' makes you wonder what exactly happens on the screen from time to time, giving you this feeling of a fairy-tale or a fantasy. On the other hand the film has quite a daunting mood, which is apparently related to the sexual abuse topic raised in it. This feeling might be a little bit overwhelming to simply enjoy the movie, but it is something that adds a weight to it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

paul s

Was this a true story? If so, I might give it more credit than I did. I really expected to enjoy this more, but the truth is that I didn't know entirely what to expect before I started watching it. It didn't have a normal preview, but instead the only preview was a short part of the movie. The human behavior portrayed in this movie didn't feel real or human to me, but rather it seemed like some kind of entertainment-industry propaganda, especially as it relates to gays. Something about the people didn't convey realism to me. It's for this reason that it failed to emotionally connect with me. Something just felt off, so I personally differ with both the "PROFESSIONAL CRITIC" and audience assessments of this film. I am familiar with many of the actors from other projects which is a big reason why I was enthusiastic about seeing this. Despite my criticisms, I'm glad I took the time to watch. I was curious for sure, just disappointed after seeing it. Bummer. I had really hoped to like it more.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Pedro Almodóvar

Director

Fele Martínez

Enrique Goded

Gael García Bernal

Ángel

Daniel Giménez Cacho

Padre Manolo

Lluís Homar

Sr. Manuel Berenguer

Javier Cámara

Paca

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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

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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
Executive Producer: Esther García
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: Spanish (Spain)
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.2M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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