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Parallel Mothers
Madres paralelas
2021 123 min Spain R 18+
★7.9
Drama
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Trailers
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Description
Two unmarried women who have become pregnant by accident and are about to give birth meet in a hospital room: Janis, in her late-thirties, unrepentant and happy; Ana, a teenager, remorseful and frightened.
Budget:
$11M
US Gross:
$2.3M
Worldwide:
$23.1M
Starring
Penélope Cruz
Actor
Milena Smit
Actor
Israel Elejalde
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Volpi Cup – Best Actress
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Picture
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Director
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Sound
Golden Globe 2022
— Best International Feature Film
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Golden Lion
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Blue Lion
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Production Design
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Cinematography
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Actress
Golden Globe 2022
— Best Original Score
European Film Awards 2022
— Best Actress
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Volpi Cup – Best Actress
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Actress
Goya Awards 2022
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 2022
— Best Original Score
César Awards 2022
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Parallel Mothers is widely regarded as a visually striking showcase for Penélope Cruz, whose powerful performance anchors the film. While some critics praise Almodóvar for his ambitious blend of personal motherhood narratives and political historical trauma, others find the screenplay disjointed and the integration of these two plotlines uneven.
| Acting | Penélope Cruz delivers a nuanced and career-defining performance that serves as the film's primary emotional anchor. | |
| Production | The film utilizes bold, signature color palettes and meticulous, gallery-like interior design to create a visually immersive experience. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative balance is divisive; some find the intersection of the intimate motherhood story and the Spanish Civil War archaeological subplot meaningful and ambitious, while others view the historical thread as tonally jarring and extraneous. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the script's quality vary, with some viewers appreciating the emotional, operatic drama while others find the plotting to be clunky, implausible, or lacking the director's usual narrative fire. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing and narrative structure are polarized, as some viewers appreciate the contemplative, multi-layered approach while others perceive it as rushed, disjointed, or prone to dull moments. |