Live Flesh (Spanish: Carne trémula) is a 1997 Spanish erotic thriller film directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Javier Bardem, Francesca Neri, Liberto Rabal, Penélope Cruz, and Ángela Molina.
The film is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Ruth Rendell. It tells the intertwined stories of several characters whose lives are forever changed by a single night of violence. The narrative explores themes of passion, fate, desire, and the consequences of impulsive actions.
The story begins in 1970 Madrid under a state of emergency imposed by the Franco regime. Elena (Francesca Neri) gives birth to Víctor (Liberto Rabal) on a bus. Twenty years later, Víctor develops an obsession with Elena, now a heroin addict, and becomes involved in a confrontation with two police officers, David (Javier Bardem) and Sancho (José Sancho). A gunshot leaves David paralyzed and alters the trajectory of all their lives.
As the years pass, the film delves into the complex relationships that develop between Víctor, Elena, David, and Sancho's wife, Clara (Ángela Molina). The film is noted for its exploration of human desire, its complex plot twists, and its signature Almodóvar aesthetic featuring vibrant colors and melodramatic scenarios. It showcases the director's talent for exploring the depths of human emotion and the unexpected turns that life can take.