In April Showers, Team TFE looks at our favorite waterlogged moments in the movies. Here's Manuel on Law of Desire (1987).
Almodóvar is the air again due to Chus Lampreave's passing and his latest, Julieta getting solid reviews (his best since Volver). And since April is “Actor Month” here at TFE let's kill two birds with one stone by looking at a small scene featuring Antonio Banderas and Eusebio Poncela from the 1987 classic Law of Desire.
The film centers on Antonio (Banderas) and his obsessive fixation with a gay film director (Poncela). After stalking him and eventually roping his way into his life, Antonio settles on trying to shape Pablo after his own image. First, he fixes some things around Pablo’s messy apartment, including some tiles in his shower, and then, the next day he takes it upon himself to set some sort of routine for them.
The shower scene is the film in miniature, with deliciously homoerotic pleasantries leading the way to darker undertones. Antonio wakes Pablo up early and coaxes him into the shower where, as he bathes him, he tells him he should be leading a healthier life: no other men, no coke. What Pablo sees as playful jabs, mere misdirected moments of paternal concern, soon alert him to what’s lurking underneath.
“Who is Juan?” Antonio asks; he’s been reading Pablo’s correspondence. It’s here the dynamics of the scene (and the film at large) change. Pablo grows agitated, taking the shower handle from Antonio, later grabbing his arm, a futile attempt at controlling this impressionable young man who’ll careen their lives towards a fiery, violent ending. He leaves, pissed off, leaving Antonio to stew in his own inadequacy.
Banderas has arguably done his best work for Almodóvar, lacing his own seductive charm with a streak for the possessive (see also: Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! and The Skin I Live In) to great effect. The actor had a minor role in Malick's recent Knight of Cups and was last seen in The 33 which came and went with little fanfare. He’ll next be tackling a role he’s wanted to play for a while: Pablo Picasso in Carlos Saura’s 33 Days.
But let’s turn it to all of you: what’s your favorite Banderas performance?