Directed By:
Pedro Almodóvar
Written By:
Pedro Almodóvar
Starring:
Penélope Cruz, Rossy de Palma, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
Genre:
Drama
Rated: R for some sexuality
In Parallel Mothers, two expecting mothers Janis and Ana console each other through their hospital stay where they are in the same room. Both carry similar experiences as to how they arrived there, but have different opinions on having a child and the stress and joy of motherhood. Little do they know that this chance encounter of love and support will turn into a bond challenged by love, loss, and parenting from themselves and from their own mothers.
This was a film I’ve been wanting to see since December for the UFCA awards. Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to see it until now. Now having watched it I feel more sad we couldn’t see it earlier to vote on it as a best screenplay and acting awards, because Parallel Mothers is one of the stronger films we have seen this and last year.
Penélope Cruz and Rossy de Palma are fantastic in this film. They have great chemistry and play very different angles of motherhood and are both fascinating to watch. Having just seen Penélope Cruz in 355, I’m very impressed, but, this performance particularly and hope to see her name during awards season.
The story is unpredictable, and all of the characters feel genuine and raw. Sometimes the tone can feel like a telenovela style that is one of my favorite parts aspects of the story. You have passion, love, and all with beautiful performances that ground the story, and make it relatable.
Overall, I really enjoyed Parallel Mothers. Go see it in theaters and expect to see if come Oscars season.
