Bad Education is a complex and dense story about the slow discovery of a dark truth. We follow Enrique Goded, a successful director, as he seemingly reunites with his long lost childhood friend and lover, Ignacio Rodriguez. We experience the pair’s past through Ignacio’s script The Visit. It is with this storytelling tool that Almodóvar applies layer upon layer of mystery and intrigue. 

Almodóvar uses more than just his script to express the story; In several parts of the film Almodóvar uses distinct editing choices that stand out from the rest of the film’s visual language to emphasize key emotional moments. For instance, when Ignacio’s script introduces the character of Fr. Manolo as well as the sexual abuse inflicted upon Ignacio by him, Ignacio trips and falls in his attempt to escape Manolo injuring his head, from this injury a blood drips down his forehead and splits the frame transitioning to the next scene, symbolizing this event fracturing his understanding of the world. Almodóvar’s use of editing as a medium for storytelling extends also to the use of aspect ratio, using a 16:9 aspect ratio to signify Ignacio’s perspective and a 21:9 to signify Enrique’s alterations to the script as well as the real world events that take place within the story.

Almodóvar’s use of unique editing and different aspect ratios enhances the mystery of the story as well giving us insight into the different character’s emotions, drives, and their internal conflicts allowing the viewer to gain a more complete understanding of the characters and their journey by the end of the story.