Parallel Mothers [Blu-ray]

Director: Pedro Almodóvar Pedro Almodóvar

Overview

In a local maternity ward, two women of disparate backgrounds find their lives entwining in an unexpected way. Middle-aged Janis (Pen?lope Cruz) eagerly awaits her new arrival as Ana (Milena Smit), a frightened and traumatized teen, feels anxious about what the future may hold for her and her new child. As the women navigate the trials of childbirth and the impending expectations of motherhood, they develop an intricate, complex bond that irrevocably alters the course of their lives. Written and directed by Pedro Almod?var.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/05/2022
UPC:	0043396581265
Original Release:	2021
Source:	Sony Pictures
Language:	English
Sales rank:	27,836

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Rossy de Palma	Elena
Milena Smit	Ana
Daniela Santiago	Modelo de la sesión de fotos
Israel Elejalde	Arturo
Julieta Serrano	Brigida
Ainhoa Santamaría	Ninera
Adelfa Calvo	Sobrina de Brigida
Inma Ochoa	Actor
Penélope Cruz	Janis
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón	Teresa
Pedro Casablanc	Padre de Ana
Julio Manrique	Jesus
Chema Adeva	Actor
Carmen Flores	Dolores
Jose Javier Dominguez	Camarero
Ana Peleteiro	Actor
Arantxa Aranguren	Actor
Trinidad Iglesias	Actor
Mar Vidal	Actor
Alberto Iglesias	Composer

Technical Credits

Pedro Almodóvar

Pedro Almodóvar	Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Esther García	Producer
Marcos Sagasta	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

There is something about Pedro Almodóvar's Parallel Mothers, that is charming, mesmerizing and completely unsettling, all at the same time. The story of two mothers, who share a hospital room as they gave birth, evolves into a surreal tale of family and trauma. There is nothing overtly terrifying about the Spanish drama, but there lies deeper meaning in almost every scene. As the bizarre story weaves in and out, there is constant subtle commentary on the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. Very Hitchcockian in execution, Parallel Mothers is a near masterpiece of filmmaking, and one not to be forgotten for a very long time. Janis (Penélope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit) meet as roommates in a Barcelona hospital. Both women are prepared to raise their children alone. Janis, who separated from her father-to-be Arturo (Israel Elejalde), is getting older and thrilled to be blessed with a child. Ana, young and afraid, has no idea who the father of her baby girl is, and plans to live with her estranged mother, Teresa (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón). After the babies are born, the new mothers exchange information and go their separate ways. As time passes, their relationship and lives evolve in extremely unexpected ways. Almodóvar, who also pens the film, somehow manages to piece the story together so efficiently that the 123-minute run time seems to fly by. Every moment in the movie packs a significant punch, thanks to a magnificent score by Alberto Iglesias. The viewer will constantly find hope, fear, relief, and anguish in Iglesias' music, as Almodóvar uses this to great effect. The acting is also top-notch, Cruz and Smit have wonderful on-screen chemistry, and the peripheral cast is utilized very well. There is a flow to Parallel Mothers that is truly hard to replicate. The film explores bloodlines, what they mean, and what happens when they are phased out, all while telling a modern story about a parent's worst nightmares. The only downside here is the rapid sprint to the ending, where flashforwards can move a bit too quickly, and some of the relationship building is left out. As viewers are taken towards the final act, the movie kind of just, well, ends, with so many blanks left unfilled. Although much of the hidden information can be deduced, it would have been nice to see how some of the characters ultimately evolved. Though it might not be the easiest movie to emotionally stomach, the film teeters on the line of essential viewing. Almodóvar masterfully blends multiple genres into a tense, horrifying, dramatic thriller. With an aura of effortlessness, not many directors can pull off a film like this. Captivating, heartbreaking and hopeful, Parallel Mothers is a must-see feature.