Synopsis

Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.

Critics Views

“In a world turned careful and considered (not by choice but by necessity) this extravagant, exuberant, magnificently messy movie, punch-drunk on story and delirious with drama, is the antidote to a cinematic lethargy you may not even have known you were feeling, until one of its legitimately insane plot pirouettes forcibly reminds you just how much dimension and chaos and vitality a flat beam of light projected onto a wall can contain.” The Playlist

“It’s a film of cascading twists and turns, of thickening complication, of high family drama. Hearing that, you might imagine that it’s a movie of high comedy as well — a giddy and ironic Almodóvarian stew of maternal diva melodrama. But Parallel Mothers, while it keeps us hooked on what’s happening with a showman’s finesse, is not a comedy. It’s not an over-the-top Pedro party” Variety

“Everything from the joyous colour palette – a cocktail of tangerine and turquoise, watermelon and lemon sorbet – to the Hitchcockian bustle of the score, gives a sense of promise and propulsion. But most of all, it’s Cruz who sets the tone, with a performance that radiates warmth and is refreshingly forgiving of her character’s flaws. She has never been better.” The Guardian

“ Even when Almodóvar plays on easy mode – and nothing about Parallel Mothers could be described as difficult – the results are irresistible” The Telegraph
Awards

Academy Awards

Nominated
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Penélope Cruz
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) – Alberto Iglesias

BAFTA

Nominated

Best Film Not in the English Language – Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar

Film Rating

IMDb
 Critics: 88%  Audience 71%

Rotten Tomatoes
Critics positive review 97%   Audience Liked It 78%

 Stockbridge Audience Score: 90%

Audience Comments

Perhaps a bit predictable plot line
Very thought provoking
Probably the best film ever seen at Stockbridge Cinema
Slow start but absorbing towards the end
Almodovar is a genius… amazing how much ‘content’ this film contains without losing the story line. Fascinating to see Almodovar finally confronting the legacy of Francoism.
This was a superb choice of film – you make great selections. We really appreciate especially films in the original language. Thank you
Too long; excellent acting
One of the best films I’ve seen this year – I loved it.
A thoroughly absorbing film and an excellent performance from Cruz. The film had a couple of loose ends which I felt needed closing and an eccentric choice of background music which tended to give the story tension and suspense which was unnecessary.
The film completely drew me in. I think Almodovar produces some excellent films. There were three in our group and all learning Spanish so it was great to follow it in Spanish and have the useful subtitles whenever we needed clarification.
A bit slow at times, but none the less very good
A good film, very in line with other Almodóvar’s films. I loved Penelope’s performance; it was superb!
Thought the acting was very engaging and believable…
Usual visual treats and high drama from Almodovar, though thinking about the film later, I found a few of the key moments a little less than totally convincing (Penelope Cruz testing to see if she was “her” child’s mother I struggled with – how many people would do that?). Further exploration of the Civil War mass grave and its effects/implications on the local village could have been interesting. The film, however, provides a great basis for discussion over a glass of wine!