From Cannes comes the fabulous news that Pedro Almodóvar will open the 57th Festival de Cannes with his new film La Mala educaciòn (Bad Education) on May 12.
Bad Education is the story of two young boys, Zahara and Paca who discover love, film and fear in the 1960's in a religious school run by Father Manolo (Lluís Homar). The three characters meet again at the end of the 1970's and during the 1980's.
Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, the leads are Gael Garcìa Bernal, Fele Martinez and Javier Cámara as "Paca".
Bad Education , is the first Spanish film to open the Festival de Cannes.
When Pedro Almodóvar was contacted in Spain with the news he said, “The joy that fills me upon learning that my latest film is to open the next Festival de Cannes is more that of an adolescent than an adult. When I was told, I once again became that young man who made Super 8 films and for whom the Festival de Cannes has always represented the greatest film fest imaginable.
But there are many other reasons why the news has such an effect on me. France has become my major interlocutor, it is even more generous towards my work than is Spain, and that's only talking box office. Opening the Festival de Cannes is the highlight of the honeymoon I have been living with the French public for years.
It is also the first time that a Spanish film will have opened the Festival. I can only applaud the directors for having accorded such an honour to Bad Education, a film from Madrid that is also Spanish and European.
I will do my best to deserve such a high honour. Thank you very much.”
Pedro Almodóvar was a member of the Cannes Jury in 1992 and in 1999, his film All about my Mother was awarded a Golden Palm for Best Director at the 52nd Festival.
Bad Education will be released in France on May 12, the same day it opens the Cannes festival, which runs to May 23. Quentin Tarantino is President of the Jury.


Moira Sullivan