Parallel Mothers (2021)
“So, we’re both single mothers.” – Janis.
Parallel Mothers (2021)
Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar
Written by: Pedro Almodóvar
Starring: Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit, Israel Elajalde
What a lovely surprise. I had very little knowledge about the Parallel Mothers plot other than ‘two women have children at the same time, one wants their kid and the other doesn’t.’ So…yeah…admittedly not a lot to go on.
I was expecting a well-crafted drama and some good acting, but instead got an enthralling psychological horror. And Penélope Cruz - woweeee what a performance! For me, she’s just ahead of Stewart for the Best Actress category and should win her second Oscar for this (note: she won’t, but she SHOULD).
The film follows Janis (Cruz) and Ana (Smit), two women who share a room in the maternity ward and give birth on the same day. Both single mothers, Janis is overjoyed with her child but Ana is less enthusiastic. They exchange details and maintain contact as their babies grow up, with a hidden truth complicating their already complex relationship.
Apart from Cruz, the greatest element of this film is the score, with the music seeming to echo the rapidly shifting tone perfectly. Lilting romantic chords flitter in the background of the dramatic opening scenes, before transforming into a more abrasive, aggressive tone as it transitions into more of a gripping psychological horror. It sucks you right into the drama, and helps echo Cruz’s deteriorating mental state.
I can’t really expand on the plot without giving away the twists, but trust me, it was a delightful surprise that elevated an already good movie to something memorable. And credit to Almodóvar for making it dramatic without it feeling too ‘soap-opera’.
Come for Cruz, stay for the story, Parallel Mothers is one to watch.
Rating: 8.5/10