CDC Reeve ‘Talk To Her’
CDC Reeve Born September 10, 1948 Philosophy professor at University of North Carolina. Does ancient Greek philosophy, especially Plato and Aristotle. CDC Reeve published work in the philosophy of sex and love, this was shown in ‘Talk To Her’ and its explicit ideas throughout the chapter. This is how the dark side of Benigno is shown in the film.
Dark Humour The chapter portrays Benigno to be a stalker. This is shown by how he’s always watching people. Lydia is given high expectations in a career of Bullfighting. The theme of death is explored in ‘Talk To Her’ when she is publicly battered to death by a bull. Humour is also used by Almodovar as throughout the film Benigno is overly casual and blunt
Psychoanalysis Benigno’s dark side is revealed slowly throughout the chapter as at first he seems like an innocent nice person, however when it is implied he rapes Alicia his character takes a darker turn. Marcos dark side is also shown when he kills a snake to help Lydia feel safer, but afterwards he is shown upset which shows he has a human side.
Dark Interior Throughout the text CDC Reeve talks about how the characters are not what they seem and how they hide a dark interior, for example the conversation about the priests and the rape. The sudden darkness of the conversation is meant to be funny however it is a serious subject. This also applies to Benigno as at the beginning he seems extremely innocent however the further throughout the film the viewer gets the more Benigno shows his true intentions
Benigno’s dark crimes are hidden by Almodovar throughout the film, the rape he commits is softened by Almodovars exclusion of the actual scene, this has the effect of humanising Benigno so the audience are able to still sympathise with him despite his crimes. Benigno’s overly obsessive behaviour towards Alicia is at first perceived as innocent, however when the audience realises he is creepy throughout the film through small events such as him peeping at her in the shower, it becomes clearer that he is obsessed.