Details
Movie Description
In LABYRINTH OF PASSION, Celia Roth (who over a decade later would star in Pedro Almodóvar's Oscar-winning ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER) portrays Sexi, a nymphomaniac punk rocker whose gynecologist father (Fernando Vivanco) specializes in artificial insemination. Spanish heartthrob Imanol Arias is Riza Niro, the gay son of the Emperor of Tehran, who has fled his father's island exile to have some fun in Madrid. The two meet and eventually fall in love, but that's just the tip of the iceberg in this whirlwind comedy. This was only Almodóvar's second film, but already he shows undeniable genius for mixing layered storylines and touching characterizations with fearlessly transgressive eroticism. Homosexuality, orgies, drugs, incest, and drag queens--Almodóvar embraces them all. LABYRINTH OF PASSION is a cult favorite in Spain, where it is regularly revived in midnight screenings, and deserves discovery from American audiences unafraid to try something unusual and exciting. A very young Antonio Banderas plays one of Riza's lovers. Look for Almodóvar himself as lead singer of a band in one of the film's hilarious concert scenes, singing "Grang Ganga" and "Suck it to Me."
Synopsis
A nymphomaniac singer and the gay son of a foreign emperor must uncover the meanings behind their various neuroses before they can consummate their relationship. This is complicated by the sexual exploits and deviations of all the members of their immediate circle, and the two characters' seemingly blissful inability to remain monogamous.
Film Notes
Filmed in Madrid, Spain.
LABYRINTH OF PASSION features the film debut of Antonio Banderas.
Many of the concerns in Pedro Almodóvar's later, more famous films like TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! and WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN--including homosexuality, sex, drugs, Shiite terrorism, and acting--are also issues in this earlier work.
This was filmed in 16mm, and later blown up to 35mm.
Almodóvar himself claims the film is a "baptismal rite" for each succeeding generation of Spanish youth.
Industry Reviews
"...[An] outrageous blend of lust and lunacy..."
Travers
"...[LABYRINTH OF PASSION] shows off the bright, gaudy visual style, the breezy manner and the exuberant energy that are [Almodovar's] particular virtues..."
Maslin
"...LABYRINTH OF PASSIONS is a truly maze-like camp sex farce, and its mood is winningly casual..."
Film Comment - David Chute (11/01/1987)
3 stars out of 5 -- "This is typical early Pedro: camp, endlessly parodic....Look out for a young Antonio Banderas...'
Total Film - Tom Dawson (07/01/2007)
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