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All About My Mother

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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87

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 107 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 107 Ratings

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All About My Mother

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All About My Mother

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: November 19, 1999 | R

Starring: Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes

Summary: This is the story of a mother (Roth) recovering from the death of her teenage son. She travels to Barcelona to find her son's father and revisits many places of her youth.

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 101 min

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Metascore

Mixed:

0

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

100

New York Daily News

Jami Bernard

Almodovar is adept at weaving together strands you'd never guess would match. Read full review

90

Los Angeles Times

Kenneth Turan

A surprisingly satisfying combination of bawdy sexual humor, genuine emotion and a plot with mechanics so excessive that Almodóvar himself calls it "a screwball drama." Read full review

90

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

The most heartfelt tribute to women -- specifically, actresses -- he's (Almodovar) ever made.

88

San Francisco Examiner

Wesley Morris

Almodovar imbues his Harlequin-novel-meets-Marvel-comic-book melodramas with something more than a wink and a smile, and it's beguiling. Read full review

88

Christian Science Monitor

David Sterritt

Some will find the movie's sexual antics too explicit and unconventional for comfort. Read full review

80

Dallas Observer Bill Gallo

The unfettered comedy of life bubbling up from the Spanish unconscious continues to be proudly liberationist, gloriously extreme, and achingly human. Read full review

63

USA Today

Mike Clark

Mothers definitely get their due here: Birth mothers, adoptive mothers and mothers-to-be - with the only men in sight (save for one young fatality and one old eccentric) being those who wear flashy makeup and sport breasts

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User Reviews

10

duckhost

Jan 29, 2022

This movie is powerful, this movie is beautiful and this movie is hard to watch, I loved the colors and also the pacing. Bittersweet poetry written about women that went through these before also women that fought for their sons and daughters to have a chance in the world. Really great movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

talisencrw

Jan 22, 2014

Last month, I went through the Pedro Almodovar Collection, which has films from Matador in 1986 to Bad Education from 2004. Although all of them were from very good to outstanding, this was one of my favourites, and for good reason, as it is obvious that Almodovar was on quite the roll. NotLast month, I went through the Pedro Almodovar Collection, which has films from Matador in 1986 to Bad Education from 2004. Although all of them were from very good to outstanding, this was one of my favourites, and for good reason, as it is obvious that Almodovar was on quite the roll. Not only is he excellent behind the camera and just bursting with creative aplomb, he is a very fine writer, not to mention the best director of women that I have ever seen.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

Deanomite

Feb 2, 2020

Excellent. Winner of Foreign oscar, and Almodovar's first really great movie (The Skin I Live in still my favorite). it's about women who are actresses, with plays and female movies woven through out. a melodrama for sure, but played with sincerity and style.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

9

alejandro970

Dec 4, 2016

Con el estilo distintivo del director manchego, en un tono intimista, materno y tragicomico, apoyado en un destacado reparto femenino. Atencion con los homenajes a los clasicos.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

9

ahmedaiman1999

May 14, 2021

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 abandonRelying 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 begins to liberate 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

9

jerryzurek

Dec 27, 2017

Great acting. Borders on a contrived plot but the emotion makes you overlook the contrivances.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

7

smijatov

Jan 28, 2011

Maybe I have had very high expectations of this film, since Almodovar is my favourite director, but I felt somewhat confused. Well, I definitely felt with the characters - the emotion was very real from all the actors, especially Cecilia Roth and Marisa Paredes. However, the story itselfMaybe I have had very high expectations of this film, since Almodovar is my favourite director, but I felt somewhat confused. Well, I definitely felt with the characters - the emotion was very real from all the actors, especially Cecilia Roth and Marisa Paredes. However, the story itself leaves me with so many questions, something that I am used to have answered in Almodovar's films. Or maybe that's a new development, since I have seen all of the films that came after this one, before I have watched All About My Mother.
Either way, it is definitely worth watching and the excellent acting and music (typical of Almodovar's works) make the film something one ought to watch. So yes, a very good film, somewhat confusing and question-provoking, but ultimately good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Awards & Rankings

5	#5 Best Movie of 1999
62	#62 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
52	#52 Most Shared Movie of 1999

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