Esteban, an aspiring young writer, runs to get the autograph of an actress, with tragic results. His mother, Manuela, goes to Barcelona to find Esteban’s transvestite father and her dislocated life begins to take a very different shape.

Self -parody is part of Almodovar’s approach and the effectiveness of his story-telling comes partly from the tension between humour and tragedy. With a character list that includes transvestite hookers, a pregnant nun and troubled lesbians that tension is never far away. Yes, this is a melodrama, but its glorious. Common threads in Almodovar’s later films are warmth and sincerity that are hard to match. He offers us a film full of literary and cinematic homage and not least a heartfelt celebration of women, mothers, actresses.

“All About My Mother is bold and lively filmmaking which plumbs jewels from cinemas past and builds on them to resonate in new directions. When it ended I wanted more.” Jeff Vordnam – AboutFilm.Com

“The difference between sensitive, emotionally true melodramas and manipulative tear-jerkers is not hard to define. It all comes down to two basic characteristics believable characters and an intelligent script.” James Berardinelli – ReelViews