Passion Labyrinth

The second work directed by Almodóvar, with Antonio Banderas in a supporting role. The film once again reflects the themes of hedonism and sexual chaos, with Almodóvar unfolding the 'sexual' theme that runs through his subsequent works: sexual confusion, sexual perversion, homosexuality, incest, and so on. Regarding these themes that are incompatible with moralism, Almodóvar adopts an ambiguous attitude of tolerance and even understanding, bestowing a distorted sense of beauty and sympathetic interpretation to these 'unsightly' behaviors. It is this ambiguity that timely conveys the confusion and chaos of the Spanish people, who had recently been released from political and historical oppression. For Banderas, if the unfulfilled dream of becoming a football player due to a leg injury is somewhat regrettable, then his accidental success as a movie star is evidently fortunate. Subsequently, he was cultivated into an excellent actor by the famous Spanish director Almodóvar. From 1982 to 1990, he starred in six of Almodóvar's films. From the 1982 film 'Labyrinth of Passion', the 1983 'High Heels', the 1988 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown', to the 1990 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!', Banderas has become an indispensable symbol of humanity in Almodóvar's films. He possesses a certain 'magnetic charm'. Unlike Alain Delon, whose charm is based on pure beauty, Banderas's charm is simple, rich, and carries a hypnotic sensuality. His gaze captures the richest Spanish sentiment, explaining an excellent Spanish temperament that evokes the wonders of genetics. Antonio provides us with the template of the 'Latin lover'. Generally, Latin lovers are depicted as slick and debauched, but Antonio is deep and sincere; his romantic style is rich and enduring, infused with the power to achieve love. In contrast, the 'American golden boys' like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt lack such depth, and their methods of character interpretation are always somewhat juvenile and superficial; whereas Antonio can move even those with rich life experiences into a deep emotional response, likely due to that inescapable 'constraint beauty' inherent in him.