movie world

The Spanish filmmaking auteur Pedro Almodovar's first film after his international breakthrough success "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" was this controversial, darkly tinged romantic comedy, "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!".

Victoria Abril plays the sexy Marina, a former porn star and junkie now struggling to make her way as a B-movie actress, stay off of drugs, and ward off the advances of her current director, a creepy old man in a wheel chair. Antonio Banderas is Ricky, a man recently released from a metal institution with an obsession with the actress. A true Lothario (he’s apparently seduced all the nurses and the female director of his institution), now he’s out and believes he can convince Marina to fall in love with him. The problem is, his idea of convincing involves breaking into her apartment and tying her up until Stockholm Syndrome takes root.

BD50 + DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:42:04 | 40.1 Gb + 7.64 Gb
Language: Espanol
Subtitles: English
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance

Director: Pedro Almodovar
Cast: Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles Leon, Julieta Serrano
Country: Spain

Extras:

• United! Reflections on Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! - this documentary, produced by Criterion in 2014, focuses on the production history of Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, the film's controversial rating in the United States, its success, its reception in different territories, and Pedro Almodovar's unique directing style. Included in it are new interviews with the acclaimed Spanish director, executive producer Agustin Almodovar, cinematographer Jose Luis Alcaine, director of production Esther Garcia, actors Antonio Banderas, Victoria Abril, Rossy de Palma ("Motorcycle girl"), and Loles Leon ("Lola"). In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (29 min, 1080p).

• Pedro and Antonio - in this filmed conversation, Pedro Almodovar and Antonio Banderas discuss their collaboration on Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, the controversial lovemaking sequence, the film's rating history in the United States, its unique themes (as well as some of the misconceptions about Marina and Ricky's relationshio), the evolution of Pedro Almodovar's style and Antonio Banderas' international success, etc. The conversation was filmed in 2003. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (27 min, 1080i).

• Michael Barker - in this fantastic new video interview, Michael Barker, co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, discusses his and his company's professional relationship with Pedro Almodovar, the important success of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at Cannes Market, the Spanish director's unique storytelling and visual styles, Penelope Cruz's special performance in Volver, the controversy surrounding the rating of Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! in the United States, etc. In English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080p).

• "Resistire" - presented here is archival footage from the premiere of Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! in Madrid in 1989. Cast and crew members can be seen performing the pop song "Resistire" in front of a very enthusiastic crowd. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (4 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - original trailer for Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080i).