The last time I wrote about Pedro Almodovar’s sadomasochistic drama LA PIEL QUE HABITO (or THE SKIN HABIT), the Oscar-winning director had cast his leading man, Antonio Banderas, but the project was still lacking in the chica department. That has now changed; Variety reports that Almodovar has brought on Spanish actresses Elena Anaya (pictured) and Marisa Paredes.
Anaya was in Almodovar’s TALK TO HER (for which he won a Best Screenplay Academy Award) and takes on the role once meant for Penelope Cruz. (American audiences have seen Anaya in VAN HELSING, as one of Dracula’s brides. Well, some of the American audience saw that, anyway.) Meanwhile, Paredes has starred in six of Almodovar’s previous films…
“Piel” very loosely adapts the 1995 novel “Mygale” by Thierry Jonquet. Here’s the synopsis for the novel: Richard Lafargue, a well-known plastic surgeon, pursues and captures Vincent Moreau, who raped Lafargue’s daughter and left her hopelessly mad in an asylum. Lafargue is determined to exact an atrocious vengeance, and an ambiguous, even sadomasochistic relationship develops between self-appointed executioner and victim.
Produced by Agustin Almodovar, THE SKIN HABIT is scheduled to roll in Spain from August for 10 weeks.