¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto!! (1984)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay)
Pedro Almodóvar (story)

Release Date:

30 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A dysfunctional family in Madrid: Gloria is a cleaning lady, hooked on No-Doze, living in a crowded flat with Antonio...

Plot Keywords:

Hitler | Lizard | Dentist | Madrid Spain | Female Nudity

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Carmen Maura	...	Gloria
Luis Hostalot	...	Polo
Ryo Hiruma	...	Profesor Kendo
Ángel de Andrés López	...	Antonio (as Angel de Andres-Lopez)
Gonzalo Suárez	...	Lucas Villalba (as Gonzalo Suarez)
Verónica Forqué	...	Cristal
Juan Martínez	...	Toni
Chus Lampreave	...	Abuela
Kiti Manver	...	Juani
Sonia Anabela Holimann	...	Vanessa
Cecilia Roth	...	Chica anuncio
Diego Caretti	...	Chico anuncio
José Manuel Bello	...	Colega barrio
Pedro Almodóvar	...	Play-Back 'La bien pagá' (as Almodovar)
Fabio McNamara	...	Play-Back 'La bien pagá' (as McNamara)

Also Known As:

What Have I Done to Deserve This? (USA)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

German | Spanish | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) (2006) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Hong Kong:III

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Kaktus Producciones Cinematográficas

Trivia:

Victoria Abril turned down the chance to star in the film, as she didn't want to play another prostitute, having just played one recently.

Quotes:

Miguel: [back home after being given in adoption to a pedophiliac dentist] At first it was fun, but I am too young to be tied down.

Movie Connections:

References The Third Man (1949)

Soundtrack:

La bien pagá

Early Volver

One thing about Pedro Almodovar's films is that they are never boring. Another is that women do whatever they need to do to get by. This film is no different and it is almost as if he followed the theme here with Volver. In fact, the star of this film, Carmen Maura, is also in Volver.

Gloria (Carmen Maura) does whatever she needs to do to get by, whether it is popping No-Doze or sniffing glue. She works constantly to provide for her family, as her no-good husband (Ángel de Andrés López) is not pulling his weight.

One son sells dope and the other likes to have sex with his friend's fathers. Grandma (Chus Lampreave) sits around talking about the village.

Her best friend Cristal (Verónica Forqué - Matador) is a prostitute.

Almodovar presents an upside down world where everything is exaggerated. This is a thinking man's movie. You really have to pay attention to get it. That is not to say it is not enjoyable, but you miss a lot by not fully participating.

You notice that Cristal is a lot more mentally healthy that Gloris; that her son is not a victim, but in charge of his sexuality; and there is enough other things going on to really keep you interest.

Almodovar is never boring.