Overview
A tale of passion and jealousy unfolds in the vibrant streets of Madrid, where love knows no bounds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- camp
- witty
- erotic
- arthouse film night
- lgbtq+ cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a distinctive, emotionally forceful breakthrough that successfully unites Almodóvar's extravagant humor with controlled melodrama and memorable performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Pablo's gay longing, Tina's life as a trans woman, and Antonio's possessive desire drive the major conflicts.
The film combines stage and film production with extravagant romantic crises, dark humor, and deliberately heightened characterization.
Pablo writes and directs plays and films while his artistic identity is entangled with his relationships and obsessions.
Antonio's jealousy of Juan escalates from romantic competition into violence and a confrontation involving Tina.
Films like Law of Desire, and why
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
shared flamboyant melodrama, queer desire, transgressive romance, and heightened visual sensibility
Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
shared erotic obsession, psychological intensity, and emotionally volatile romantic relationships
Querelle
shared queer melodrama, theatrical artifice, and doomed desire
The Pillow Book
shared provocative sexuality, crime melodrama, and stylized emotional excess
Movie Details
- Director
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Release Date
- 1987-02-07
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (340)
Cast
- Eusebio Poncela
- Carmen Maura
- Antonio Banderas
- Miguel Molina
- Fernando Guillén
- Manuela Velasco
- Nacho Martínez
- Bibiana Fernández
- Helga Liné
- Germán Cobos
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Law of Desire about?
- A flamboyant Madrid playwright’s tangled queer romances spiral into jealousy, violence, and a desperate struggle over love and identity.
- What is Law of Desire like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Law of Desire as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Law of Desire violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Law of Desire as moderate.
- What did critics think of Law of Desire?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a distinctive, emotionally forceful breakthrough that successfully unites Almodóvar's extravagant humor with controlled melodrama and memorable performances.
- Which films are like Law of Desire?
- Films with a similar feel include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, Querelle, and The Pillow Book.
- How long is Law of Desire?
- Law of Desire runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Law of Desire?
- In United States, Law of Desire is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
