THERE’s a lot of bull in “The Matador,” a documentary portrait of David Fandila, Spain’s 24-year-old superstar bullfighter known to his legions of worshipful fans as El Fandi.
He has the good looks of a rock star, a foxy blond girlfriend he seldom sees, a mother who fawns over him – and the head of a bull hanging in his gaudy living room. (So much for good taste.)
There are many people who consider bullfighting antiquated and barbaric. Directors Stephen Higgins and Nina Gilden Seavey, to their credit, give face time to the sport’s detractors.
But mostly “The Matador” romanticizes a brutal tradition that has no place in the 21st century.
Remember: Bulls may be dumb and ugly, but they, too, have feelings.
In Spanish, with English subtitles. Running time: 106 minutes. Not rated (disturbing images). At the Angelika, Houston and Mercer streets.