ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER

"All About My Mother is not about Pedro Almodovar's mother, although in a sense it is, in that it is about all mothers. And about woman - as mother, virgin, whore. Not surprisingly, there is visual and dialogue reference to Joseph L. Mankiewicz's All About Eve (1950). But in all her guises, Almodovar seems to be saying, woman is not only more interesting/ complex/ unpredictable than man, but stronger and more inspirational - heroic, if you like. But while the film is an ode to woman: males are badly done by here - but there is ambivalence, too, in young Esteban's plaintive view that with his father missing, so is half his life. The film is not an essay, though, but a gripping close up of a group of characters whose lives are split open by the pen and the camera in Almodovar's hands. It is Almodovar's most mature and reflective work, leaving us with a strange, gentle sadness, despite its many wonderful, amusing and amazing moments. Sensational performances provide the fire power and the decorative filmmaking that characterises Almodovar is taken to a satisfyingly complete conclusion, marrying style with substance. Make a point of seeing this film - whether on the big screen or on video."
Andrew L. Urban

"Pedro Almodovar certainly has a way with women. He can put them in the most sexually, morally and emotionally challenging positions, and he always manages to maintain their dignity, their strength and their character. In All About My Mother, he has presented the fascinating Manuela, who is running towards her past and her future at the same time. Cecilia Roth gives the role such honesty that, despite recognising that she is going to be put through all kinds of torture, you know she is going to come through. She compels the audience to stay with her. Indeed all the women in this movie are compelling, in different kinds of ways. And the men? Well, there are only really two "normal" men - the virginal son, Esteban, who dies early on, and Sister Rosa's demented father, who only wants to know of a person how tall they are and how much they weigh. The surprising thing is that when you strip away all the Almodovar excess, the fake boobs and the drugs and the sex jokes, All About My Mother is quite a classical tale based on real human emotion. It's not a movie which could be made in Hollywood and it's not necessarily a movie which Hollywood would understand. It is altogether charming, positively confronting and a real delight."
Anthony Mason