Law of Desire

The first of Banderas’ movies with Almodóvar to get a U.S. release (their third collaboration overall) boosted their reputations as both edged their comedic stylings into ever-darker and near-thriller veins. Banderas plays a fan of playwright/filmmaker Eusebio Poncela who hooks up with his idol and will stop at nothing, not even murder, to remain close. The cast also includes Almodóvar supernovas Carmen Maura (as Poncela’s transgender sister) and (in cameos) Rossy de Palma, Bibi Andersen and Victoria Abril. In Spanish with English subtitles.