La ley del deseo
Encyclopedia
Law of Desire or La ley del deseo (in original Spanish
) is a 1987 film by Pedro Almodóvar
. Considered to be Almodóvar's first explicitly gay
film, it focuses on a complex love triangle between three men. It follows the more serious tone set by his film Matador
, exploring the ways in which society represses an individual's true desires with tragic consequences.
) is a homosexual film director whose latest work has just been released. In a party after the premiere
he meets Antonio (Antonio Banderas
), a beautiful young man who is obsessed with him. At the end of the evening they go home together and Antonio experiences anal sex
for the first time, but while Pablo considers that happening just a lust
y episode and is still in love with his long-time lover Juan, the young man misunderstands his intentions and reveals his possessive
behaviour as a lover.
Parallel to this is told the dramatic story of Pablo's sister Tina (Carmen Maura
), a struggling actress who once was a boy and changed sex
to build a sexual relationship with her father, who eventually left her for another woman. Because of this, she hates men so much it is rumoured that she might be a lesbian
. She also must care for her niece Ada, whose mother (played by the famed Spanish transsexual actress and singer, Bibí Andersen) is not at home, and whom she loves like a daughter.
The thrills begin when a jealous Antonio tries to rape
Juan and ends up throwing him off a cliff. After confronting Antonio about the death, a devastated Pablo has an accident that causes a loss of memory
. The police
suspect both Tina and Pablo for the murder - only a sympathetic doctor keeps them at bay. Tina decides to reveal to Pablo why she is a transsexual, and announces she has found a lover, who Pablo finds out too late is actually Antonio. Antonio holds Tina and Ada hostage in order to demand an hour alone with Pablo. A stunned and limping Pablo agrees, and experiences some tender moments with Antonio before Antonio suddenly kills himself.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) is a 1987 film by Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar Caballero is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Almodóvar is arguably the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. His films, marked by complex narratives, employ the codes of melodrama and use elements of pop culture, popular...
. Considered to be Almodóvar's first explicitly gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
film, it focuses on a complex love triangle between three men. It follows the more serious tone set by his film Matador
Matador (film)
Matador is a 1986 film by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar about a student matador, Ángel Jimenez , who confesses to murders he didn't commit. Themes include sex, death, and religion.- Plot :...
, exploring the ways in which society represses an individual's true desires with tragic consequences.
Plot
Pablo Quintero (Eusebio PoncelaEusebio Poncela
Eusebio Poncela is a Spanish actor.His debut on stage was with the Federico Garcia Lorca play Mariana Pineda....
) is a homosexual film director whose latest work has just been released. In a party after the premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
he meets Antonio (Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
), a beautiful young man who is obsessed with him. At the end of the evening they go home together and Antonio experiences anal sex
Anal sex
Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men...
for the first time, but while Pablo considers that happening just a lust
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
y episode and is still in love with his long-time lover Juan, the young man misunderstands his intentions and reveals his possessive
Possessive
Possessive may be:* Possessive case* Possessive adjective* Possessive pronoun* Possessive suffix* Possessive construction, pattern among words indicating possession * For possessive behavior in a relationship, see Attachment in adults...
behaviour as a lover.
Parallel to this is told the dramatic story of Pablo's sister Tina (Carmen Maura
Carmen Maura
Carmen García Maura is a Spanish actress. In a career that has spanned six decades, Maura is best known for her collaborations with noted Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar.-Early life:...
), a struggling actress who once was a boy and changed sex
Sex change
Sex change is a term often used for gender reassignment therapy, that is, all medical procedures transgendered people can have, or specifically to sexual reassignment surgery, which usually refers to genitalia surgery only...
to build a sexual relationship with her father, who eventually left her for another woman. Because of this, she hates men so much it is rumoured that she might be a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
. She also must care for her niece Ada, whose mother (played by the famed Spanish transsexual actress and singer, Bibí Andersen) is not at home, and whom she loves like a daughter.
The thrills begin when a jealous Antonio tries to rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
Juan and ends up throwing him off a cliff. After confronting Antonio about the death, a devastated Pablo has an accident that causes a loss of memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
. The police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
suspect both Tina and Pablo for the murder - only a sympathetic doctor keeps them at bay. Tina decides to reveal to Pablo why she is a transsexual, and announces she has found a lover, who Pablo finds out too late is actually Antonio. Antonio holds Tina and Ada hostage in order to demand an hour alone with Pablo. A stunned and limping Pablo agrees, and experiences some tender moments with Antonio before Antonio suddenly kills himself.