In the realm of contemporary cinema, few filmmakers have consistently delivered masterpieces like Pedro Almodóvar. His latest film, ‘Parallel Mothers’, featuring the remarkable Penélope Cruz, is a testament to his enduring brilliance.
This Penélope Cruz 2021 Drama With 96% on RT Deserves Your Full Attention
There aren’t many filmmakers living today who are as consistent as Pedro Almodóvar, who has released at least one film hailed as a masterpiece within every decade since the 1980s. Although he was praised for his recent work on the melodrama The Room Next Door and the western short film Strange Way of Life, Almodóvar made his masterpiece of the 2020s with the psychological drama Parallel Mothers, which reunited him with his frequent star Penélope Cruz. Almodóvar and Cruz have worked together on All About My Mother, Volver, Pain & Glory, Broken Embraces, Live Flesh, and I’m So Excited, developing a creative partnership similar to that of Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, or Bong Joon Ho and Song Kang-ho.
Almodóvar has such a consistently excellent track record that it is often hard for his new films to stand out, given the tremendous expectations that they are faced with. Parallel Mothers received two nominations at the Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Cruz, but it was strangely not submitted by Spain for consideration as Best International Feature, and didn’t earn recognition in major categories like Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay. Parallel Mothers may start with a somewhat familiar premise, but it soon becomes a more thought-provoking meditation on the value of life and the importance of remembering the past.
What Is ‘Parallel Mothers’ About?
As its title suggests, Parallel Mothers is the story of two women who give birth at the same time and develop an unusual relationship as a result. Cruz stars as the highly respected photographer Janis Martínez, who becomes pregnant after having an affair with the forensic archaeologist Arturo (Israel Elejalde). Despite his hesitations, Janis decides to go through with the pregnancy, even while obligated to work on a photoshoot involving mass graves from the Spanish Civil War. It is at the hospital that Janis meets the single teen mother Ana (Milena Smit), who was forced to give birth by her father, despite her pregnancy being the result of a sexual assault. Janis and Ana’s lives become intertwined when they realize they took home the wrong children. Janis had actually been raising Ana’s daughter, Cecilia, while Ana had been left to care for Janis’ daughter, Anita.
Even though the basic premise may seem like the sort of saccharine storyline that would appear on a network television show, Parallel Mothers proves to be a powerful story about nature and nurture. The dynamic between Janis and Ana is a complex examination of class, age, and economic divisions, as their strengths as mothers are determined by the resources available to them. Janis believes that as a photographer, she is obligated to document history to ensure that the atrocities of the past are not repeated; however, she struggles to apply that same argument to her own life, as she wonders if saving Ana’s knowledge of what happened could make her life easier. Janis also reflects on the fact that they are both individuals forced to be responsible for themselves, albeit under different circumstances; while Janis had the clout to have an independent career in which she could raise a child on her own, Ana was compelled by factors beyond her control to be a single mother, even if she doesn’t entirely feel grown up.
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‘Parallel Mothers’ Is a Moving Reflection on Mortality
It is not unusual for Almodóvar to draw from his own life and culture when crafting his stories, as Pain & Glory was inspired by real experiences with illness. Parallel Mothers is a profound exploration of generational trauma, as it is amidst her ongoing sexual relationship with Ana that Janis begins to learn more about the devastating war she has been photographing. By witnessing the horrific circumstances endured by her people, Janis is empowered to appreciate the privileges she has and starts contemplating how she would like to be remembered. The many generations that have passed since the war do not lessen its tragedy, as the film concludes with a heartbreaking sequence where people gather to mourn their ancestors after the mass graves are uncovered. However, Janis realizes that both acknowledging her loss and aiding Ana in shaping her family will allow them both to heal and ensure they are remembered.
Although it addresses topics such as sexual abuse, economic stress, and the ramifications of war and genocide, Parallel Mothers remains a very watchable film, thanks to the excellent chemistry between its stars. Almodóvar has a unique talent for crafting poetic, lightly comical dialogue for his characters, as his writing style is as instantly recognizable as that of other acclaimed filmmakers, such as Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, or Richard Linklater. Parallel Mothers is an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with Almodóvar’s body of work, showcasing how wildly his stories can fluctuate in tone. However, those who have cherished his entire career may find that Parallel Mothers serves as a continuation and maturation of the themes he has always explored.
