While themes of female resilience and independence are prevalent in Pepi, Luci, Bom, Almodovar accentuates the dispute between Pepi and the policeman, suggesting that the primary purpose of the film is to illustrate the conflict between men and women in contemporary society. Luci, the policeman’s wife, serves as Pepi’s weapon. By introducing Luci to Bom and satisfying her masochism, Pepi provides her with a sense of independence, thus freeing her from her tyrannical husband. However, Luci ends up returning to the policemen and resuming her role as an abused housewife, suggesting that men ultimately limit women’s potential. In the end, Pepi loses and the policeman wins.
There are several other aspects of the film that highlight the societal conflict between genders. In one scene, a woman takes out her frustration on her sleeping husband, expressing her need for sex. During this rant, she shaves her mustache, illustrating her insecurities that have stemmed from her mistreatment and neglect. Her sexual needs exhibit the female desire to rebel from male oppression. Likewise, Luci’s radical behavior is representative of this desire. Her transformation from a timid housewife to a masochistic groupie reveals the female potential when uninhibited by a male counterpart. Ultimately, Almodovar establishes the tyrannical role of men in society through the portrayal of sexual oppression and sexual deviance.
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