All About My Mother - Todo sobre mi Madre - 1999 Academy Award Winner for best foreign film directed by Pedro Almodovar. A single mother in Madrid sees her only son die on his 17th birthday as
he runs to seek an actress's autograph. She goes to Barcelona to find
the lad's father, a transvestite named Lola who does not know he has a
child. First she finds her friend, Agrado, a wild yet caring
transvestite; through him she meets Rosa, a young nun bound for El
Salvador, but instead finds out she is pregnant by Lola. Manuela
becomes the personal assistant of Huma Rojo, the actress her son
admired, by helping Huma manage Nina, the co-star and Huma's lover.
However, Agrado soon takes over when Manuela must care for Hermana
Rosa's risky pregnancy. With echos of Lorca, "All About Eve," and
"Streetcar Named Desire," the mothers (and fathers and actors) live out
grief, love, and friendship. Stars Penelope Cruz, Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Candela Peña and Antonia San Juan. Rated R for sexuality including strong sexual
dialogue, language and some drug content. 101 minutes, optional English subtitles.
