Ignacio is a young gay film director in 1980's Madrid struggling for a new story line when his old school friend, Enrique, wanders back into his life looking for work as an actor. Ignacio is well aware that all is not as he is being led to believe, but intrigued he investigates their mutual past at a boys' Catholic school and in particular the lecherous behaviour of one of the priests, while at the same time inviting Enrique to share his home. Bad Education is a highly stylised drama come mystery thriller, reminiscent in many ways of Almodovar's earlier work rather than his rather more humane, contemplative later films.