Anyone read the book, its much bizarre then the movie. The movie is mild compared to the book. I loved the book. Movie did not follow the book, most especially the ending. If anyone read it please share your thoughts.
shareI'm curious what the audience reaction would have been if Almodovar had kept the original book ending.
shareHow's the book ending? (and other differences)
shareIt's pretty complicated, so I'll try to keep it simple.
Basically the Zeca character (called Alex in the book) kidnaps Vera (Eve) in an attempt to soften the doctor up into performing plastic surgery on him. The doctor tracks them down, knocks Alex out and brings them back to his chateau. The doctor and Eve realize they actually do love one another. Upon seeing his new prisoner, Eve nearly loses her mind and it's revealed that not only was Alex at the party with Vincent the night the doctor's daughter was attacked, Alex was the one who REALLY raped and brutalized her into insanity. Eve pulls a gun on the doctor thinking Alex's presence is his final trick to drive her into insanity after the years of degradation, the vaginoplasty, the surgeries, only to realize the doctor's being truthful. Alex realizes his victim is his friend, they kill him and decide how to get rid of the body.
No maids revealed to be mothers, no secret brotherly connections, and the daughter is alive in a mental hospital.
Who was killed? Alex or the doctor? I'm guessing the doctor but I wasn't quite sure.
shareAlex is killed. The doctor and Eve continue their incredibly twisted relationship from there.
shareTo be fair the book implies their relationship isn't that "twisted" by the end, as the doctor overcomes his rage and anger towards Eve (Vera) and they kind of weirdly decide to be together.
It's as if Eve becomes his only connection to his daughter and she deeply understands his true nature. Eve kind of accepts her new place (gender) and the Doctor over a four year period forms genuine affection for her. Eve is also shown to develop her character for the better after her change. As Vincent she was a violent rapist with no compassion for women. Once she is forced to be Eve she actually becomes a better human being, which is something the movie entirely misses out. In the book there is no question as to whether Vincent raped Norma. Both Alex and Vincent violently rape her with no remorse.
The book actually leaves a lot to be desired, it's quite short, it feels slightly rushed and the story isn't as developed as it could of been, however you can't put it down at the same time. The movie is actually better in terms of developing the plot, but it often misses points the book made.
For example the ending is completely different i'm not sure the movie ending is satisfying, also Vincent doesn't grow or learn anything as a woman in the movie, so it misses out her development as a person. In simple terms Vincent had to go through a forced sex change before she could become a decent human being, which in my opinion is a twisted powerful message.
By contrast the doctor let's go of his anger, abandons his revenge, forgives Eve/Vincent for what she did to his daughter and grows to love her. The book ultimately demonstrates a full range of powerful intense and often dark emotions.