QUEER CINEMA
All About My Mother 15
Spain | 1999 101 minutes
DIRECTED BY
Pedro Almodóvar
STARRINGCecilia Roth | Marisa Paredes | Candela Peña
When Pedro Almodóvar’s All About My Mother premiered in 1999, it confirmed the Spanish director’s status as one of world cinema’s most daring and compassionate storytellers. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the movie blends melodrama, comedy and tragedy into a deeply moving portrait of women, motherhood, and resilience. The story begins in Madrid, where nurse Manuela (Cecilia Roth) loses her teenage son Esteban in a sudden accident. Stricken with grief, she travels to Barcelona in search of the boy’s estranged father, a transgender woman named Lola who knew nothing of Esteban.
All About My Mother revels in bright colours, theatrical flourishes, and emotional intensity, yet it never tips into parody. Central to its power is Almodóvar’s empathy for his characters. Critics analysing his earlier films focused on his outrageous style, sexual frankness, and black humour. By this time, however, he had become a filmmaker capable of both tenderness and restraint. The ensemble cast conveys vulnerability and vibrancy, embodying Almodóvar’s belief that chosen families can be as vital as biological ones.
The film’s impact was immediate and lasting. It won the Best Director prize at Cannes, the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and the Oscar. More importantly, it marked a turning point for Almodóvar’s international reputation. While he had already achieved cult status with earlier works like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), All About My Mother cemented him as a major voice in world cinema.
22 September 2025 MONDAY 19:30
AUDITORIUM
Tickets £8.00|£5.00 (under 26) CONCESSION NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE