Manuela
Cecilia Roth
Manuela
All About My Mother
“Part of every woman is a mother/actress/saint/sinner. And part of every man is a woman.”
7.6
1999
1h 41m
ComedyDrama
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Overview
Following the tragic death of her teenage son, Manuela travels from Madrid to Barcelona in an attempt to contact the long-estranged father the boy never knew. She reunites with an old friend, an outspoken transgender sex worker, and befriends a troubled actress and a pregnant, HIV-positive nun.
Trailer
Original Trailer Official
Cast
Huma
Marisa Paredes
Huma
Nina
Candela Peña
Nina
Agrado
Antonia San Juan
Agrado
Rosa
Penélope Cruz
Rosa
Rosa's Mother
Rosa María Sardà
Rosa's Mother
Rosa's Father
Fernando Fernán Gómez
Rosa's Father
Actor "Doctor"
Fernando Guillén
Actor "Doctor"
Lola
Toni Cantó
Lola
Esteban
Eloy Azorín
Esteban
Mario
Carlos Lozano
Mario
Doctor 1
Manuel Morón
Doctor 1
Reviews
lmao7
This film got my attention right away because of the references to 2 of my fave old Hollywood films : All About Eve and Streetcar Named Desire. Melodramatic with a lil comedy. My fave scene when all 4 ladies were at the couch just chatting and laughing. I love all the characters (maybe not Nina). Agrado…for the win! Penelope…what a beautiful nun, so sad about her situation though. Huma, at first kinda off (as she didn’t give the autograph to the son) but as the movie went on, I liked her character more and more. And Cecilia, very empowering. At first, the other characters were supposed to be helping the mother but in the end, she was the one who helped all of them, in a way. Feel good dramatic film.
Read full reviewbadelf
Of course, it's an Almodovar, so it's already a great film. But this one - the artistic shots, the characters, the story, the humanity - all top notch. I think this film might be his best.
Read full reviewCinemaSerf
When a tragedy occurs that profoundly impacts on “Manuela” (Cecilia Roth) she heads back to her old home in Barcelona to reunite with her estranged transgender husband (Toni Cantó) and share her bad news. Her arrival in the city sees her reconnect with her transvestite pal “Agrado” (the outstanding Antonio San Juan) and that’s the start of her enjoyably characterful journey through the city where her innate kindliness also sees encounters with many of the quirkiest of it’s residents - including “Sister Rosa” (Penélope Cruz) who happens to be a pregnant nun - and you’ll never guess who the father is! There’s also a struggling actress “Huma” (Marisa Paredes) who is having the wobbles ahead of a performance of “A Streetcar Named Desire” as well as some troubles with her younger pal “Nina” (Candela Peña) whose habit is starting to get a bit out of control. If you look at the all of the ingredients here, it can seem a little contrived but the combination of a forceful and powerful effort from Roth and some creative flair from an on-form Pedro Almodóvar manages to create a series of scenarios that flow effortlessly from the seemingly sublime to the ridiculous whilst raising a few smiles along the way and dealing with some serious topics, like Alzheimer’s, grief and identity issues along the way. The photography is intimate and almost as mischievous as the writing that makes a series of points succinctly yet without ever becoming sentimental or sanctimonious. Team Almodóvar at it’s best, here.
Read full reviewFeaturettes (1)
An Introduction to Pedro Almodóvar’s All About My Mother
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