It won’t be surprising to hear that a film called Live Flesh would be all about the body. There are, of course, the sensual scenes that make the movie an erotic drama, but filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar shifts the original psychological thriller novel into an examination of the body, how it’s perceived, and how people break that perception in pursuit of desire. It’s because of this that even with the melodramatic flourish, the disability, abuse, and drug addiction aren’t just plot devices– they’re the natural extension of that discussion after the body has gone through trauma– but Almodóvar expands it further with the fearful time period in which they were born into, and the societal positions they take as a result of it. The excellent ensemble cast and Almodóvar’s signature vivid style bring Carne Trémula to life spectacularly.