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Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
¡Átame!
1990 102 min Spain NC-17 18+
★6.9
Comedy, Romance, Drama
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Trailers
Description
After being released from a mental hospital, a troubled young man tracks down an actress he once had sex with and forces her into captivity, determined to make her part of his life.
US Gross:
$4.09M
Worldwide:
$3.13M
Starring
Victoria Abril
Actor
Antonio Banderas
Actor
Loles León
Actor
Awards
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Actress
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Picture
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Original Score
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Actor
Berlin International Film Festival 1990
— Golden Bear
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Supporting Actor
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Supporting Actress
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Director
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Original Screenplay
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Cinematography
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Sound
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Film Editing
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Production Management
César Awards 1991
— Best International Feature Film
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Production Design
Goya Awards 1991
— Best Costume Design
Key opinion
¡Átame! is widely regarded as a signature Almodóvar work that balances a provocative kidnapping premise with surprising tenderness and humor. While most viewers praise the leads' chemistry and the film's unique tonal blend, a minority find the narrative shallow or morally repellent.
| Acting | Antonio Banderas delivers a career-defining performance, effectively balancing the character's obsessive, unstable nature with genuine charm and vulnerability. | |
| Acting | The chemistry between Banderas and Victoria Abril transforms a potentially disturbing kidnapping premise into a compelling and strangely believable romantic dynamic. | |
| Direction | The film effectively employs Almodóvar’s hallmark style, characterized by absurd humor, vibrant aesthetics, and an eccentric, warm-hearted approach to unconventional relationships. | |
| Theme | The film’s tone is a subject of debate: many viewers find it a delightful, lighthearted, and sentimental romance, while others feel the plot lacks necessary psychological depth and gravitas. | |
| Score | Opinions on Ennio Morricone's score are polarized, ranging from appreciation for its musical highlights to critiques that it feels mismatched with the film's specific directorial tone. |