Parallel Mothers Review: Almodóvar's Spanish Drama Hits All The Right Notes
Pedro Almodóvar's Parallel Mothers beautifully expresses the blissful highs and aching lows of motherhood, delicately told through the story of two single women who fatefully shared a hospital room. The Spanish film masterfully combines vivid imagery and emotional tension to create a riveting story that avoids the usual clichés, stereotypes, and other pitfalls of the genre. Disarmingly relatable and unpredictable, Parallel Mothers isanunflinching and unforgettable look at motherhood, love, and loss.
Parallel Mothers has a straightforward — if vague — premise: Janis (Penélope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit) come from very different walks of life, but bond over their shared experience of going into labor as single mothers. Janis is the main focus, and she faces unusual challenges as a new parent. This is further complicated when the infant's biological father, Arturo (Israel Elejalde), challenges the assumed paternity of the child. Ana, who is much younger, has her own struggles with her new role, thanks to her lack of an emotionally stable home life. In both instances, the stress of childrearing isn't the issue; rather, these parallel mothers have inner demons to contend with.
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Parallel Mothers is a uniquely feminine film. With the exception of Arturo, all of the leading and supporting characters — at least those who appear onscreen — are women. The men are predominantly fifth business to the plot's main interest: mothers and the maternal experience. Fittingly, this is a deeply empathetic film that eschews manufactured conflict for a much more nuanced approach to storytelling. The initial setup and labor scenes are tastefully done, leaning
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