Bad Education

Year: 2004

Runtime: 106 min

Language: Spanish

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Budget: $5M

DramaMysteryThrillerFantasyRomanceCrime

In a Catholic school during the early 1960s, two young boys, Ignacio and Enrique, discover love, the world of cinema, and unsettling experiences under the school’s strict regulations. Father Manolo, the principal and literature teacher, observes their experiences with a mixture of concern and fascination as they navigate their formative years. Years later, in the late 1970s and 1980s, their lives unexpectedly intersect again, leading to profound consequences and forever changing their destinies.

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Timeline & Setting – Bad Education (2004)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Bad Education (2004). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Roslyn High School, Las Vegas

Roslyn High School is depicted as an institution that initially enjoys a reputable standing in the district, represented by its ranking and innovative projects like the SkyWalk. The school becomes the epicenter of personal and financial drama, exposing the complexities of leadership and community trust. Las Vegas serves as a contrasting backdrop, symbolizing indulgence and escapism, where significant personal relationships unfold.

🏫 School 🎰 City

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:38

Main Characters – Bad Education (2004)

Meet the key characters of Bad Education (2004), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Frank Tassone (Gael García Bernal)

Frank Tassone is depicted as a charismatic and respected figure within the Roslyn High School community, initially admired for his leadership and vision. However, as the layers of his character unfold, he demonstrates a deeply flawed nature, becoming embroiled in financial scandals that reflect his moral decline. His complexity challenges the audience to reconcile the charm of a leader with the darkness of betrayal.

👨‍🏫 Principal 💔 Betrayal 🧠 Ambition

Pamela Gluckin (Javier Cámara)

Pamela Gluckin stands as a figure of desperation, grasping at straws to maintain her family's stability amidst financial turmoil. Her character arcs from a trusted assistant superintendent to embroiled in scandal, illustrating the vulnerability of individuals under pressure. Pam embodies the human struggle between ethical conduct and survival instincts, resulting in profound personal conflict.

👩‍🏫 Assistant Superintendent 💰 Embezzlement 😟 Desperation

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:38

Major Themes – Bad Education (2004)

Explore the central themes of Bad Education (2004), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:38

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Movies about institutional corruption like Bad Education

Methodical dramas revealing systemic rot and the betrayal of public trust.If you liked the tense unraveling of systemic fraud in Bad Education, you'll find similar stories here. This collection features movies about public scandals, white-collar crime, and the heavy consequences of betraying trust within established organizations.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically begin with a stable, seemingly reputable organization. An investigation, often journalistic or internal, gradually peels back layers of deception, revealing a web of corruption. The focus is on the process of exposure and the devastating impact on both the perpetrators and the community they served.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped together based on their shared theme of exposing institutional decay, their methodical pacing that builds suspense, and their heavy emotional weight stemming from profound betrayal and public downfall.

Slow burn dramas of moral collapse like Bad Education

Stories where ambition leads to a steady, tragic moral compromise.For viewers who appreciated the character-driven tension and tragic downfall in Bad Education, this list gathers movies with a similar vibe. These are steady-paced stories focusing on ambition, betrayal, and the heavy price of moral compromise.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a character, often initially sympathetic, whose aspirations or circumstances push them towards increasingly unethical decisions. The story unfolds at a measured pace, emphasizing the psychological weight of each compromise, culminating in a fall from grace that feels both inevitable and deeply tragic.

Why These Movies?

These films share a focus on the psychological journey of moral failure, a steady pacing that allows dread to build, a tense tone, and a consistently heavy emotional weight that results in a sad or bleak ending.

Unlock the Full Story of Bad Education

Don't stop at just watching — explore Bad Education in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Bad Education is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Bad Education Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Bad Education, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Bad Education Timeline

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Bad Education Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Bad Education

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Bad Education: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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Discover movies like Bad Education that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.