ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (Todo Sobre Mi Madre) (1999) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Pedro Almodóvar

Written by - Pedro Almodóvar

Starring - Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Penelope Cruz, Candela Pena, Antonia San Juan, Rosa Maria Sarda

"All About My Mother is perhaps Almodòvar's most celebrated work. More than any other reason, it is perhaps because it feels like a definite realisation of a distinctive style by the Spanish filmmaker in both style and context.

The story of All About My Mother, which triggers off with an open reference to Opening Night by John Cassavetes, is that of a woman's emotional journey as she tries to recover after the death of her only son and searches for her transvestite ex-husband. But it is also the story of her friendship with a crazy and colourful group of women, including a heroin addict actress, a lesbian and a scandalised nun.

The aforementioned colourful nature of the characters is conveyed by the sheer beauty of the vivacious colour of both the art direction in the movie and the meticulous and symmetrical camera movements. Every frame seems to be enhanced by warmth and a pinch of eccentricities.

But the great extent of the examination of humanities, especially through the array of these fascinating and unusual character is infectuously gripping throughout. It's fascinating also because of the great balance between the depth of the dramatic aspects of the narrative with a coating of tongue in cheek humour. 

And more than anything, this is a representation of one of Pedro Almodòvar's favourite themes, which is that of paying tribute to the resilience and strength of women and a celebration of femininity and female solidarity."

Drama, Spain/France