IT SEEMS that drag is the theme of this week's cinematic releases. Not only are the female stars of Connie and Carla dressing up as men pretending to be women but Gael Garcia Bernal, star of Bad Education is also going on for a spot of gender bending.

Bad Education is another incredibly accomplished work from Spanish maestro Pedro Almodovar, with strong echoes of his 1987 feature Law Of Desire.

This is one of Almodovar's most stylish and audacious films to date, held together by an intricate flashback structure which cleverly obscures the truth behind many layers of fantasy and illusion.

Sixteen years after they became childhood best buddies, film director Enrique Goded (Fele Martinez) crosses paths with his first love, Ignacio Rodriguez (Bernal).

At first Enrique doesn't recognise his old pal - Ignacio has changed so much - but he senses the same spark between them.

The pair agree to collaborate on Ignacio's screenplay The Visit, a largely autobiographical piece about child molestation at a Catholic boys' school.

In time, Enrique takes his old friend as his lover and the film goes into production, with Ignacio cast in the lead role of vengeful transsexual Zahara.

Past and present collide, compelling Enrique to reminisce about his schooldays and in particular Ignacio's treatment at the hands of jealous Father Manolo.

As principal photography comes to a close, Enrique learns a shocking secret that sends his carefully ordered world spinning out of control.

Rating: 8/10