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Poster for Bad Education

Bad Education

Seen it?

2004 | 105 min | Drama, Crime

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 8 times its budget. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated NC-17: expect violence, drug use and sex.
  • It's in Spanish, so expect subtitles (or a dub).

When an old friend brings filmmaker Enrique Goded a semi-autobiographical script chronicling their adolescence, Enrique is forced to relive his youth spent at a Catholic boarding school. Weaving through past and present, the script follows a transvestite performer who reconnects with a grade school sweetheart. Spurred on by this chance encounter, the character reflects on her childhood sexual victimization and the trauma of closeting her sexual orientation.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    1 win and 6 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $40 million worldwide on a $5 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 90K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Pedro Almodóvar

  • Gael García BernalÁngel / Juan / Zahara
  • Fele MartínezEnrique Goded
  • Daniel Giménez CachoPadre Manolo
  • Lluís HomarSr. Berenguer
  • Francisco MaestrePadre José
  • Francisco BoiraIgnacio
  • Juan FernándezMartín
  • Nacho PérezYoung Ignacio
  • Raúl García ForneiroYoung Enrique
  • Javier CámaraPaca / Paquito