Bad Education
One of if not my favourite Pedro Almodovar film about two boys, Enrique and Ignacio, who meet while at boarding school and fall in love, but are separted by the priest who sexually abuses Ignacio. As adults they meet again, Enrique a film director and 'Ignacio' an actor. The latter offer the former a short story he wrote asking if this would be his next project, giving him the role. 'The Visit' is the story within the story as it is about their time at school and fictional account of when they are adults. There are flashbacks and reveals in this melodramatic low key thriller that I don't wish to spoil for anyone who hasn't seen it.
The Fall
Although Tarsem has the reputation for quality of substance, this film, I think is both beautifully shot around the globe but has a heartfelt story, part improvised it seems at times by the young actress at the centre. In a hospital in LA 1915, young Alexandria meets and befriends bedridden stuntman, Roy who tells her stories. In between his storytelling he asks her to questions, eventually getting her to bring him more pills. The story within the story is about five characters and their journey across to hunt down the villain who has wronged them all in some way. Its one of the most beautifully shot films I've ever seen, from the costumes to locations, the design is amazing.
Franklyn
This is an odd one. With rather a big name cast, at the time, this British film is part science fiction, part tragedy. We follow four characters, a man recently jilted at the alter, an artist who films her suicide attempts as part of her art degree, a man church warden looking for his son and masked vigilante searching for his enemy. The first three characters' stories take place in London as we know it and the last in a steampunk futuristic place, Meanwhile City, where everyone is part of some sort of religion. The vigilante's story is within the story, as eventually all the characters collide in a heartbreaking moment.
