# Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

### reviewed by
Frankie Paiva

All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi madre) (R) Starring Cecilia Roth, Penelope Cruz, and Eloy Azorin Directed by Pedro Almodovar Running Time: 105 Minutes Released by Sony Pictures Classics Reviewed by Frankie Paiva

There are only a selected handful of films that manage to be funny, yet be extremely sad at the exact same moment in time. All About My Mother is one of those films. The movie, which is filled with beautiful scenery and gorgeous settings, has this ability to affect you by printing haunting images onto your brain, and making sure they stay there.

Manuela (Roth) takes her son Esteban (Azorin) to a touring production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" for his birthday. He is delighted by the show and decides to wait outside in the rain to ask one of the lead actresses for her autograph. He is determined to get it, and he runs after her when she speeds away in a taxi. At an intersection, he is run over by a car and killed. He died, never knowing who his father really was, and Manuela was going to tell him all about his dad that night as his birthday present.

The grief stricken Manuela decides to go back to Barcelona to meet up with his father, but there is a catch. Not only does the dad not know he has a son, he also happens to be a transsexual who know goes by the name of Lola, and is contributing to the spread of AIDS across the city. She rents an apartment, and while in town, takes in a pregnant nun with a foreboding mother and helps her through her pregnancy. She also meets up with her friend Agrado (Antonia San Juan), who I believe was supposed to be a woman playing a woman but in this movie it's kind of hard to be sure. These three women soon begin a rapidly growing bond of friendship, a bond that is later shared with the lead actress from Streetcar, who is currently in town for the show. Each of these four women have problems, and each one of them will have help to deal with them.

It's hard to think of where to begin with this film. For starters, the cinematography and camera work is superb. The use of color is remarkable and adds life to and electricity that seeps throughout the entire picture. But not everything is vibrant and rosy. The film also has some chilling moments, and a particular scene involving Manuela circling a field full of hookers offering themselves to, and being raped by men is (in my opinion) the most haunting and depressing scene of any film this year. The film's main theme is death and disease, and the pain caused by both, but much of the abundant humor overshadows the dark undertones. There is an amazing monologue that Agrado delivers about her life late in the film, that is so funny and hilarious, you can download it on the AAMM website.

There are many great performances in the film, Cecilia Roth shines as the vulnerable, but strong heroine of the movie and San Juan is just beyond belief as Agrado. But the real star of the film is director Pedro Almodovar, everything in the film looks amazing and all of the scenes are well thought out. This may finally be his chance to be noticed by the mainstream audience, as the film is likely to pick up this year's Best Foreign Film Oscar. An overall good film, almost all of the testosterone in the audience will be lost, but it will still be enjoyable for both genders. If you are looking for a great movie to see, find the theater near you playing All About My Mother.

Overall Grade: B+ Rated R for for sexuality including strong sexual dialogue, language, and some drug content The Young-Uns: While the film would be OK for older teens, they will probably be bored. Good Age: 15 and up

A Review by Frankie Paiva E-Mail me at SwpStke@aol.com Visit a listing of my reviews at: http://us.imdb.com/ReviewsBy?Frankie+Paiva

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