Biennale: Matador
Pedro Almodavor's painterly erotic thriller recieves a 4K re-release.
Pedro Almodavor’s sprawling tale of violence, desire and the aggressive pursuit of satisfaction, Matador, much like every of the director’s films, follows a collection of eccentric perverts. Angel (Antonio Bandera), a sexually frustrated man who confesses to an attempted rape as well as series of murders, Maria (Assumpta Serna), his lawyer, and Diego (Nacho Martínez), a now retired bullfighter still struggling for control after a goring incident, are the centrepieces to a sprawling cat and mouse chase that finds Eva (Eva Cabo), Diego’s much younger girlfriend, at the heart the chaos.
Brimming with strong reds and yellows, Matador evokes feelings of intense rage, passion and sexual desire through its colour palette that feels in line with Almodaor’s painterly style of melodrama. Melodrama that is filled to the brim with expressive camera movements, sweeping music and performances just as bold as the textures Madrid-set casas the cast blast in and out of. The excess of style and themes would be at odds with one another, like a maestro and an untamed bull, however, Almodavor’s dramatic backbone dials up the passion, perverse longing and violence to an explosive boiling point that makes Matador an engaging watch.
The central eroticism is found in the comparisons Matador draws between the performative control of bullfighting and sex. Almodavor treats the audience like a bull, luring with red herrings and nudity before pulling the red cloth away. This approach is best exercised in the first and third acts, loaded with tension and intrigue. The second act however, and its melting pot of reveal shocks, feels clumsy as a result, as if the film is spinning its wheels with moments of fun that both land and miss.
Banderas is excellent, giving an understated performance, contrasted by the eccentricity of the remaining cast. Cabo’s muted, yet fiery innocent passion burns through the screen in an enchanting manner, whilst Sumpta and Martínez walk a fine balance between seductive, strange and commanding, delivering two perverse, powerhouse performances, making for an electric watch. Almodavor’s delicate blend of poppy filmmaking and quirky melodrama, along with a terrific ensemble cast, permit the second act to be but a momentary stumble as the films exploration of lust, desire, rage and violence is made compelling by Almodovar’s steady hand.
Matador’s 4K Remaster held it’s World Premiere at Venice Film Festival September 1st 2025
Shivam Pota
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