Penélope Cruz has partnered again with Spanish
filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar in Parallel Mothers – a poignant drama that
follows the lives of two women who meet while in labor in a shared
hospital room. The film marks Cruz’s seventh film collaboration
with Almodóvar.
Cruz stars as Janis, a 40 something fashion
photographer who meets Arturo, a forensic anthropologist, during a
photoshoot. Janis asks Arturo to investigate a mass grave containing the
body of her great-grandfather and others who went missing
during the Spanish Civil War. The two begin a passionate affair, and
later Janis discovers she’s pregnant just as the relationship is fading.
Months later, Janis is in the hospital alone and in
labor. She shares a hospital room with a teen named Ana (played by
Milena Smit), also a soon-to-be single mother. Ana is frightened and
struggles during labor, but Janis provides her much-needed
comfort and support.
Both women give birth to daughters, and their bond
grows over their shared experience. They exchange numbers intending to
stay in touch as they leave the hospital. However, months pass and they
reconnect in unexpected circumstances, and
their relationship becomes much more complicated.
After a brief break following the birth of her
daughter, Janis returns to her work and her quest to bring closure to
her family and the others whose ancestors disappeared. Atruro re-enters
her life and leads the efforts to find and exhume
their remains.
Aptly titled, Parallel Mothers, follows the
side-by-side journey of two very different women as they become mothers.
Almodóvar also brilliantly weaves that plotline with the story of
Janis’ ancestors.
Cruz delivers an outstanding and deeply emotional
performance as Janis, which earned her a Best Actress nomination for
Sunday’s Academy Awards. Her performance in Parallel Mothers is her
fourth Oscar nomination. Smit delivers an equally
impressive performance as Ana evolves from a lost teen to a loving
mother.
Running 2 hours and rated R for some sexuality,
Parallel Mothers is presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Coming
to Park City Film April 1-3, Parallel Mothers is a film worth watching
for fans of Spanish Cinema and Pedro Almodóvar’s
work.