Entre tinieblas (1983)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:

Pedro Almodóvar (story)

Release Date:

22 March 1984 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A nightclub singer seeks refuge with gay nuns on dope in a Madrid convent.

Plot Keywords:

Convent | Nun | Abbess | Priest | Singer

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Cristina Sánchez Pascual	...	Yolanda Bel
Will More	...	Jorge (as Willmore)
Laura Cepeda	...	Lina
Miguel Zúñiga	...	Madero
Julieta Serrano	...	Abadesa Julia
Marisa Paredes	...	Sor Estiércol
Mary Carrillo	...	Marquesa
Carmen Maura	...	Sor Perdida
Lina Canalejas	...	Sor Víbora
Manuel Zarzo	...	Cura
Chus Lampreave	...	Sor Rata de Callejón
Marisa Tejada	...	Lola
Eva Siva	...	Antonia
Cecilia Roth	...	Merche
Rubén Tobías	...	Policía

Also Known As:

Dark Habits
Dark Hideout

Runtime:

114 min | Finland:96 min (25 fps) (DVD)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Hong Kong:IIB | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Company:

Tesauro S.A.

Trivia:

Pedro Almodóvar's first film to have a proper producer and be made for a proper film company, rather than be made on the hoof like his previous projects. Almodóvar has since distanced himself from the film as he felt that he had to bow to commercial considerations.

Quotes:

Abbess Julia: Very soon, this place will be full of murderesses, drug addicts, prostitues, just like before.

Movie Connections:

References My Fair Lady (1964)

Soundtrack:

Dime

Confusing, incoherent and extremely bizarre.

Maybe the one line summary is wrong, that's the problem with Pedro Almodovar's flick, you don't know what its supposed to be: ironic, satire, parody, black comedy or a serious drama. It's got a lounge singer hiding out in a convent (remember this is a 1983 movie, made way before Sister Act) after her lover ODs. The nuns are former losers, street trash, etc. who are given punishable names like Sister Rat-in-the-Sewer or Sister-Damned and their Mother Superior shoots up heroin. Are they making fun of Catholics or what? Nevertheless, this is a bit funny, while being a little boring. Recommended to the Almodovar/Spanish/foreign fans who shouldn't expect this one to be better than his usual films.