Live Flesh is a Spanish film directed by Pedro Almodรณvar and released in 1997. The movie is based on a novel written by Ruth Rendell, and it tells the story of an ex-convict named Victor Plaza (played by Liberto Rabal) who is released from prison after serving a sentence for shooting a police officer while trying to escape arrest.
Upon his release, Victor tracks down the couple responsible for his imprisonment, David (played by Javier Bardem) and Elena (played by Francesca Neri). David is a veteran police officer who played a key role in Victor's arrest, while Elena was the girl who had a brief romantic relationship with Victor before he went to jail.
Upon finding them, Victor inserts himself into David and Elena's lives, and a complex web of relationships and desires begins to unravel. Victor's arrival triggers a series of events that force the characters to confront their past mistakes and their current desires.
As the story progresses, tensions rise, and relationships become increasingly entangled. Victor becomes obsessed with his former lover Elena, David becomes increasingly jealous and paranoid, and Elena struggles to navigate her conflicting feelings towards both men.
Live Flesh is a visually stunning film that explores themes of love, desire, betrayal, and redemption. The movie features a standout performance by Penelope Cruz, who plays young and innocent Isabel, a sympathetic character caught up in the complex web of relationships. The film ultimately delivers a gripping story that explores the power dynamics at play in human relationships, and how past traumas can shape our present experiences.