“Watching The Skin I Live In hours before meeting Almodovar prompts a mild cognitive dissonance. The film is a violent, graphic, harrowing psychodrama: an unstinting look at revenge, rape and murder. It’s the sort of movie even the most stony-hearted viewer will struggle not to watch through splayed fingers. And in almost jarring contrast, the man who created it is utterly affable. Dressed casually in a colourful, striped velour pullover, his eyes twinkle beneath his fluffy shock of grey hair in an avuncular fashion as he welcomes visitors into his office — spacious but by no means grand — settles behind his desk and offers a broad, wide smile in anticipation of the first question. Why does a man this charming make a film that’s so harrowing?”
— I interviewed Pedro Almodovar in Madrid, for The Australian. I was very, very excited to meet him.
