One of the imprescindible films that you should watch before to die.

Rare event: España crea una película que si es buena de verdad.

Grande filme, ótimas referências! Um filme de Almodóvar é um filme de Almodóvar, sensível, poético, uma verdadeira obra de arte.

A movie that is a painting, a poem, and a beautiful musical creation all in one, touching every string of the soul . Almodovar's most beautiful creation

One of my all-time favorite films. Would love to program an Almodovar retrospective soon!

Hermosa y conmovedora

All About My Mother represented another stage in the development of Pedro Almodovar as a film director. His early films are marked by a more outrageously camp style. The humour is over-the top, the morality perverse, and the style kitsch. However over time, Almodovar's style began to mature from his independent beginnings, and his films began to deal with more serious matter. All About My Mother was certainly not the first of Almodovar's films to explore this new seriousness, but it was the best movie that he had made up until that point. He may have subsequently exceeded it with Talk to Her and Volver. Many of the trappings of the typical Almodovar film are here. The colours are bright and vibrant. The décor is gaudier than the kind that you see in most people's houses. The style is theatrical, with traditional Spanish songs, old movies and scenes from plays thrown in, complete with stage curtains descending at the beginning and end of the movie. The film is populated by typical Almodovar characters – fighting lesbians, a pregnant nun with HIV, and a few transgender prostitutes. However these comfortingly familiar Almodovar touches are only little camp frills here. The story could have been told more plainly without any of them, although if it had been, then it would not have been an Almodovar movie. These elements are inseparable from Almodovar's style, but the film has serious and universal themes too. It deals with the pain of loss, and confrontation with one's own past. What follows is a sad tale that its ironies, catty witticisms and startling dialogue cannot detract from. If you would like to read more of my views on All About My Mother, I wrote a blog (possibly containing spoilers), which can be found at: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/all-about-my-mother-1999/

The best movie ever made. Ever.

This film has quite a laidback feel to it, with slow jazz type music playing in the background at times. Its an interesting, thoughtful perhaps watch. There are numerous sex references present, so unsurprisingly it isn't an ideal watch if your watching with your parents or similar but that's to be expected. It features a good cast (including Cecilia Roth and Penelope Cruz) and I liked the cinematography, showing the seedier sides of Barcelona. The plot intrigued me - its certainly a good bit of social commentary, Given the plot, it may have been, if only somewhat, controversial when it came out in the late 1990s and I respect that its a well liked and regarded films. As ever with Almodovar's films, bright colours plays a big part in this. I liked and respected that the women looked out for each other. I suppose it has the feel of a play about it - indeed a play is part of the storyline but the whole film could be a theatrical production, I feel. I thought it was at times poignant and also somewhat amusing, due to the sharp dialogue. I certainly enjoyed watching it, so yes, I'd recommend it.

Pedro Almodovar delivers, what he describes in his own words as, a screwball drama that features many uniquely captivating female characters in a film he dedicates to "actresses who played actresses". The plot may prove too melodramatic for some but I am usually down for the big, loud, over the top plot devices and characters, especially when paired with such gorgeous cinematography and an eye dazzlingly stimulating color palette. Cecilia Roth provides a solid foundation as most of the action and character introductions come about as a result of passing through her orbit. Penelope Cruz creates some impressively nuanced pathos in a role that became more interesting as the story progressed. It was Antonia San Juan however, who almost stole this show with her Algrado, as her performance offered the largest range, providing plenty of humorous banter interspersed between moments that felt far too genuine for a fictitious film plot. I had intended to dig into Almodovar's work much more quickly after Parallel Mothers, early this year, and Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown which I saw, and loved, shortly after. With yet another winner from him I know I will be actively seeking out more of his work in the future. On a side note I got a kick out of the fact this was listed, as it is alphabetical, right behind All About Eve in the New York Times Book of Movies that I am currently working through. I would also recommend giving A Streetcar Named Desire a rewatch before this as that production is prominently featured in All About My Mother. 7.5/10 NYT 1000 #277

So much going on, so much to digest even though the narrative is pretty easy to follow. The stories are captivating and unorthodox without being forced. Excellent acting and well paced. Decent.

Quirky like any Almodóvar film, with extravagant costumes and detailed sets. Great script and direction.

"I used to be a truck driver ... in Paris, before I got my tits." An interesting blend, featuring irreverent characters, subplots that border on soap opera territory, and copious humor, but presented in a way that is intended to convey close friendships and emotional vulnerability rather than simple entertainment value. Deeply reverential of classic source material and using a Sirk film most prominently, Almodóvar has no qualms about expressing his love for the melodramatic, but instead of leaning towards pulp he opts for a more humane interpretation that feels uplifting, particularly in the face of personal tragedy. Solid scriptwork and a constantly moving plot keep the audience attentive, and the color palette makes the visuals just as engrossing as the story. Not necessarily a film that speaks to my own experiences, but one that can be appreciated by many. (3.5/5)

Mystery of beauty is a actual truth.I think it is better than me.Beautifulness secret gone for forty-eight looking like benzene ring.Forty-eight difference of woman would a race.isn't? Also moon is that- For Penélope Cruz

Commedia frutto della mente geniale di Pedro Almodovar in grado di parlare e raccontare con una schiettezza ed una sincerità devastante il tema della sessualità. Mai si era visto un affronto tale alla classica esposizione di certi temi sul grande schermo, e questo è un pregio invidiabile. Per quanto riguarda il resto, ogni tanto si scorre via troppo velocemente e con passaggi un poco troppo bizzarri.

Relying on its melodramatic strength, affectingly poignant score and sumptuous colour palette, the movie goes full force right off the bat towards its core concept driving the story forward, relentlessly pulling at heartstrings and leaving us completely choked up. Then, it seems to abandon what it set up and liberates itself, only to unveil, little by little, its rich and intricate tapestry of femininity and maternity. Through a growing web of female characters, All About My Mother celebrates female solidarity as we see each one shows right in time to rescue the other from the brink of collapse by creating emotional bonds between one another to fill in each other's gaps and get each others to complement their missing halves. Stupendous performances from all around, but I was struck, in particular, by Cecilia Roth's bravura performance as the lead character Manuela. The emotional range she shows is impressive and the entire movie she seems as if her eyes locked in tears, ready to fall anytime her son is brought up in any conversation. These scenes show how inextricably linked her complex feelings of haunting grief are, as she mourns Esteban's death and her being bereft of maternity at the same time. All About My Mother is also a panorama of vivid colours and moments of 'joie de vivre' that keep the film light on its feet while bolstering its tribute to actresses as well as its female spirit. Crazy how All About My Mother winds up giving perfect closure to the relationships between the characters and the themes it explores after getting carried away a bit too far now and then.

This was probably the most LGBT-friendly movie I've ever seen and I'm glad to have watched it. The acting was top-notch, particularly from the lesser-known Cecilia Roth & Marisa Paredes, who I'd never heard of before but were very effective conveying their intended emotions. The subject matter was excellent, the sympathetic treatment given to the trans characters was awesome and the allusions to All About Eve were appreciable. I did have some trouble with the subtitles, not because I wasn't paying attention but because HBO Max puts them in tiny un-adjustable font with a non-opaque background that made it nearly impossible to follow along when anything on the screen was white, like the hospital scenes & a few others. It was still a good viewing experience and clearly a great movie!

In Pedro Almodovar's intimate and insightful salute to femininity, All About My Mother features a cast of fully realized female characters (with a transvestite thrown in for good measure) who struggle to support each other, deal with their individual regrets, and come to terms with missed opportunities. While the film almost feels too short to deal in depth with all of the intriguing characters, it remains a touching comment on the importance of compassion and acceptance. The movie, consisting mostly of interior shots, is also vibrant and visually stunning with a color palette unlike any other film of its kind.

1001 movies to see before you die. A life Feminine drama based in Spain that covers issues like transvestites, aids, child birth and death. It was well made, but ambiguous. Saw it on TCM.

Pedro Almodóvar's luscious, poignant, and humane film All About My Mother; sits as a vibrant ode to the classic women-led melodramatic films which flourished within the male-dominated period of Hollywood cinema. Though its connected nature works as a stylistic choice, the film still manages to "wear it all on its sleeve." The female characters in All About My Mother not only have individual agency but also come together within a series of life-affirming circumstances like bonding, identity, loss, and grief -- all brought visually to life by Almodóvar. His early filmography including Labyrinth of Passion (Almodóvar, 1982), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Almodóvar, 1988) and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (Almodóvar, 1990) tended to explore sexuality, drama, pop décor, and were all directed with a visually distinctive approach by their director. However, in comparison, Almodóvar's most celebrated Oscar-winning feature acts as a mature steppingstone in his work. He approaches his subjects and themes previously with an almost comical sense of anarchy, which overall passes here for a reflective piece. The characters registered in Almodóvar's unique mind are relatable, caring, flawed, powerful, but still delightfully quirky and real within the space of the film. The film begins with the central protagonist Manuela (Roth). She loses her son, Esteban (Azorín) in a tragic car accident after chasing down a taxi containing famed actress, Huma (Paredes) aiming to get her autograph after watching her in a stage play of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Subsequently, after the transplant of her son's heart, Manuela falls apart, leaving prostitution to find his estranged, trans father, Lola (Cantó). Along the way she reconnects with an old friend, another transgender prostitute named Agrado (Juan) and, Rosa (Cruz). Rosa, a Nun whose role is to shelter sex workers and has a crucial connection to Lola, and also to the actress Huma. Her story unfolds like that of a troubled friend to her co-star Nina (Peña) who has a dependency on heroin. All the character strands that connect with Manuela work not only as a character drama but as a textual drama as well; the visual references to A Streetcar Named Desire, Manuela and Esteban sitting down to watch All About Eve (Mankiewicz, 1950) and its main story arc, evokes that heavily. Manuela relies on the kindness of friends and strangers, and they return this in turn too. Almodóvar approaches the material with his emphatic and visceral directorial hand but allows these central characters to equally be funny and thought-provoking. It is primarily a caring film that actively refuses to pass judgement on these human frailties or view their consequences as cautionary tales but rather treats them with compassion. The character of Agrado, a transgender former truck driver-turned sex worker, is not solely defined here by her circumstances. Instead, Agrado sets out to deconstruct the prejudiced viewpoints of trans-identity, embracing the things which define her alone instead of by typically preconceived notions; a contemporary and daring feat of trans-positive identity representation by Almodóvar. Also, an actress that possesses comic chops that can rival that of the classic comedy stars like Gilda Radnor or Madeline Kahn. In a career-defining performance, Penelope Cruz's Rosa, who becomes HIV positive after a relationship with Manuela's former lover Lola – sees within Manuela, Agrado, and Huma, their humanity, and gains happiness in their respective companies. Almodóvar is showcased here as a director who has reached a peak of emotional heights. In a career that constructed film stories and featured subject matters which are tonally archaic, frank and button-pushing. All About My Mother wants its audience, to listen, to take in and to fully experience these characters occupying a space which feels authentic and true. It is a film that takes its time, relishes, and acknowledges its classic Hollywood genre label, but importantly, Almodóvar has his particular voice to register. Within the movie works of Bette Davis, Huma considers her an inspiration; and it is Almodóvar that clearly wishes not only to utilise and celebrate her wide and appreciated body of work but also, in turn, homage, pastiche and embrace it together via this role. An emotional, heartfelt, and sumptuously designed piece of pure melodrama in the best sense. While we are all currently enduring a timely period of political divide and intolerance, the works of Spain's most appealing, enduring and above all graceful directors, was, and still is needed evermore. The film's closes with this line; ‘To all actresses who have played actresses. To all women who can act. To men who act and become women. To all the people who want to be mothers. To my mother.' Let's celebrate that statement, eh?