Almodovar film upsets animal rights activists

MADRID (Hollywood Reporter) - Pedro Almodovar's film "Speak To Her" became embroiled in a debate on animal rights when Animal Amnesty, a Spanish activist group, said Tuesday that it has filed a complaint against the Oscar-winning director and his production company, El Deseo, for bullfighting scenes shot in the Madrid area. "We have done nothing illegal and have ensured that every step of the way was completely in accordance with the law", an El Deseo spokeswoman said, the film is in production.

But Animal Amnesty president Matilde Cubillo said the producer broke a Madrid county law prohibiting the mistreatment of or cruelty to animals and is demanding that any harm to animals in a film be simulated. Cubillo said El Deseo killed four bulls and chose handicapped bulls with vision or physical problems because they were cheaper.