All About My Mother (1999) Todo sobre mi madre (original title)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:

Pedro Almodóvar (writer)

Release Date:

16 April 1999 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Part of every woman is a mother/actress/saint/sinner. And part of every man is a woman. (English trailer)

Plot:

Young Esteban want to become a writer and also to discover the identity of his father, carefully concealed by the mother Manuela.

Plot Keywords:

Transvestite | Nun | Actor | Actress | Autograph

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 48 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Cecilia Roth	...	Manuela
Marisa Paredes	...	Huma Rojo
Candela Peña	...	Nina
Antonia San Juan	...	Agrado
Penélope Cruz	...	Hermana Rosa
Rosa Maria Sardà	...	Madre de Rosa (as Rosa María Sardá)
Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Padre de Rosa
Toni Cantó	...	Lola
Eloy Azorín	...	Esteban
Carlos Lozano	...	Mario
Fernando Guillén	...	Doctor en 'Un tranvía llamado Deseo'
Manuel Morón	...	Doctor 1
José Luis Torrijo	...	Doctor 2
Juan José Otegui	...	Ginecólogo
Carmen Balagué
Malena Gutiérrez	...	Malena
Yael Barnatán	...	Yael (as Yael Bernatán)
Carme Fortuny	...	Carmen
Patxi Freytez	...	Farmacéutico
Juan Márquez
Michel Ruben
Daniel Lanchas
Rosa Manaut
Carlos García Cambero		(as Carlos G. Cambero)
Agustín Almodóvar	...	Taxista
Paz Sufrategui
Lola García
Esther García
Inma Subirà		(as Inmaculada Subira)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cayetana Guillén Cuervo	...	Mamen (uncredited)
Lluís Pasqual	...	(uncredited)
Dolors Pozzan	...	Verónica Forqué Double (uncredited)
Fito Páez	...	Espectador (uncredited)

Directed by
Pedro Almodóvar

Writing credits
Pedro Almodóvar		(writer)

Produced by
Agustín Almodóvar	....	executive producer
Michel Ruben	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Alberto Iglesias

Cinematography by
Affonso Beato		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
José Salcedo

Casting by
Sara Bilbatúa

Art Direction by
Antxón Gómez

Set Decoration by
Federico García Cambero
Enrique García		(settings)

Costume Design by
Bina Daigeler
José María De Cossío

Makeup Department
Antoñita viuda de Ruiz	....	wigs (as Viuda de Ruiz)
Jorge Hernández	....	makeup artist
Juan Pedro Hernández	....	makeup artist
Jean-Jacques Puchu	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Sergio Díaz	....	assistant production manager
Esther García	....	production manager
Xavier Guallar	....	assistant production manager
Juan de Haro	....	assistant production manager trainee
Toni Novella	....	assistant production manager
Carles Pastor	....	assistant production manager trainee (as Carlos Pastor)
Tino Pont	....	production manager
Borja Rodríguez Gamboa	....	assistant production manager trainee

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Álvaro de Armiñán	....	second assistant director
Ignacio Charrabe	....	second second assistant director
Susana Fernández	....	third assistant director
Covadonga R. Gamboa	....	second assistant director
Pedro Lazaga	....	co-assistant director
Luisfer Machi	....	second second assistant director (as Luis Fernando Machi)

Art Department
Luis Aferré	....	assistant set decorator
Marcos de Aguilar	....	storyboard
José Altit	....	props
Gonzalo Ansó	....	props
Pedro Luis Arias	....	laborer
Jesús Arroyo	....	laborer
Tomás Corbacho	....	laborer
Raúl Fernández	....	laborer
Emilio García	....	laborer
Vázquez Hermanos	....	property master
Adelaida Huete	....	laborer
Jesús Mateos	....	property master
Ricardo Mengíbar	....	property master
Alberto Pereira	....	laborer
Juan Vicente Riuve	....	props
Javier Rodríguez	....	assistant set decorator trainee
Mari Carmen Rodríguez	....	laborer
Juan Ignacio Viñuales	....	props

Sound Department
José Antonio Bermúdez	....	sound mixer
Luis Castro	....	sound effects
Jaime Fernández-Cid Buscató	....	boom operator (as Jaime Fernández)
Diego Garrido	....	sound mixer
Miguel Rejas	....	sound
David Rodríguez	....	assistant sound editor trainee
Ricardo Viñas	....	dolby sound consultant
Iván Mayoral	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Antonio Molina	....	special effects

Stunts
Antonio Lemos	....	stunt coordinator
Ismael Martínez	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Enrique Bello	....	gaffer
Fernando Beltrán	....	electrician
Rafael Castro	....	electrician
Roberto de Miguel	....	second assistant camera
José Ramón Delgado	....	first assistant camera
Álvaro Gómez	....	electrician
Ángel Gómez	....	electrician
Luis Hidalgo	....	electrician
Teresa Isasi	....	still photographer
Joaquín Manchado	....	second camera operator
Raúl Manchado	....	assistant camera trainee
Eugenio Martínez	....	electrician
José Luis Martínez	....	electrician
Carlos Miguel	....	key grip
Alberto Poveda	....	video technician
Aurelio Sánchez Herrera	....	third assistant camera

Casting Department
Macarena Pombo	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Inma Artigas	....	wardrobe
Humberto Cornejo	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Felisa Catalinas	....	negative cutter
Manolo Laguna	....	assistant editor
Rosa Ortiz	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Alfredo Anaya	....	musician
Paco Bastante	....	musician
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra	....	orchestra (as The City of Prague Philharmonic)
José Luis Crespo	....	music engineer
José Luis Crespo	....	music mixer
Fernando Egozcue	....	musician
Lucio Godoy	....	music producer
Lucio Godoy	....	musician
Patrick Goraguer	....	musician
Alberto Iglesias	....	musician
Mario Klemens	....	conductor
Iñaki del Olmo	....	assistant music mixer
Enrique Pérez	....	musician
Manuel Tobar	....	musician
Patxi Urtegui	....	musician

Transportation Department
Ángel Frutos	....	driver
Juan Luis Grande	....	driver
Julián Hernández	....	driver
Miguel Ángel López	....	driver
Ángel Megino	....	transportation
Carmelo Morón	....	driver
Agustín Ruiz	....	driver
Javier Sánchez	....	driver
Bernardino Villanueva	....	driver

Other crew
Alfonso Aguirre	....	laboratory director
Emilio Ardura	....	tapestry
Yuyi Beringola	....	script supervisor
Yolanda Cáceres	....	tuning key
Adela Donamaría	....	administration staff
Sergio Díaz	....	production assistant
Lola García	....	assistant to director
Miguel Ángel García	....	production coordinator
Beatriz Gordo	....	administration staff
Alfonso Holguín	....	location manager
Carlos Machi	....	location manager
Óscar Mariné	....	title designer
Pablo Núñez	....	opticals
Pedro Paz	....	assistant to director
Francisco Javier Prieto	....	location manager
Jorge Pérez	....	stage manager: Barcelona
María Rodríguez	....	stage manager
Ana Sanz	....	administration staff
Luis Miguel Segura	....	store agent
Rosa María Serrano	....	administration staff
Paz Sufrategui	....	press attache
Paz Sufrategui	....	unit publicist
Nicolás Tapia	....	production assistant
Amaya Valero	....	administration staff
Óscar Valero	....	administrator
Miguel Ángel Vivas	....	location manager: Barcelona

Thanks
Aline	....	thanks
Elena Benarroch	....	thanks
Solán de Cabras	....	thanks
Bette Davis	....	dedicatee
María Díaz Laviada	....	thanks
Pierre Edelman	....	thanks
Cayetana Guillén Cuervo	....	thanks
Gregorio Martínez	....	thanks
Momi Mokuba	....	thanks
Nachy	....	thanks
Rodolfo Olmedo	....	thanks
Lluís Pasqual	....	thanks
Teresa Ramallal	....	thanks
Helena Rohner	....	thanks
Gena Rowlands	....	dedicatee
Romy Schneider	....	dedicatee
Mamen Segovia	....	thanks
Reni Zanundio	....	thanks

Production Companies

• El Deseo S.A. (co-production)
• Renn Productions (co-produciton)
• France 2 Cinéma (co-production)
• Vía Digital (participation)

Distributors

• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Pathé (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Brazil (1999) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Budapest Film (2000) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2000) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Gutek Film (1999) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Rosebud (1999) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (1999) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Aquarius TV (2006) (Greece) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Life HD (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• GAGA (2000) (Japan) (all media)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Twin Pics (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Elamedia Inc.  sound stages & facilities
• Häagen-Dazs  thanks: Ice Cream
• John Galliano  thanks: clothes
• Molinare  post-production
• Red Led  music mixed at
• Red Led  music recorded at
• Smécky Studios  music recorded at
• Vía Digital  collaboration

Also Known As:

"Todo sobre mi madre" - Spain (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality including strong sexual dialogue, language and some drug content

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish | Catalan

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:T | Spain:18 | Canada:14+ (Ontario - 2006) | Iceland:12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

A Coruña, Galicia, Spain

Company:

El Deseo S.A.

Trivia:

Agrado's monologue was based on a real life event. When the electronic system of an Argentinian theater failed, the director suspended the show. Actress Lola Membrives decided to give the news to the audience and make them an offer: if they'd stay, they could listen to the narration of her life.

Quotes:

Huma Rojo:There are people who think that children are made in a day. But it takes a long time, a very long time. That's why it's so awful to see your child's blood on the ground. A stream that flows for a minute yet costs us years. When I found my son, he was lying in the middle of the street...

Movie Connections:

References All About Eve (1950)

Soundtrack:

Coral para mi pequeño y lejano pueblo

What a sensational study of the women universe!

This time of the year, when we talk about movies, we have to talk about Oscar. The nominees will be announced this Tuesday, but there are already favorites in some categories. Some people still doubt that "American Beauty" will win as best picture- which I don't, because I think it was the best film of the decade- but almost everyone agrees that this wonderful movie "Todo sobre mi madre"/ "All About My Mother" will win as best foreign language film. And it really deserves that.

I've always recognized Pedro Almodóvar's talent. Most of his films are very weird and quite surreal, but sometimes I don't understand him. So I couldn't decide if I would see "All About My Mother" on the movies, or if I would wait for it to come out on video. It was released in Brazil last October, and only yesterday I went to see it at a local cinema. And... What did I think about it? Well... A true, true masterpiece!

The story of the film is about Manuela (wonderfully played by Cecilia Roth), a nurse who works at a hospital in Madrid, Spain, and has a 17 year old son, Esteban, who doesn't know the identity of his father. On the day of his birthday, he dies in an accident and Manuela gets desperate. She reads his notes and finds out that he wanted to know at least the name of his father. So she goes back to Barcelona, where she got pregnant, trying to search for her ex-husband, but some surprises will change her life.

What Almodóvar makes to this movie is just incredible. He makes us cry and laugh- specially in the scenes where the transvestite Agrado is. But, in fact, the film is a deep drama, studying carefully the female universe with strength and realism, and also explaining the importance of a mother. All the main characters are very well developed and each of them has some importance in the plot. It's really amazing how Almodóvar knows women so well, and how he loves and cares about them. His film is a very complex masterpiece, with some important messages and a wonderful story, and should be seen by everyone, even for the American people who don't like subtitles. But pay attention- the dialogues are fabulous!

"All About My Mother" is surely on my Top 10 of 1999. And... let's wait for the Oscar nominees on Tuesday, but I'm sure it will be nominated, and certainly win. It's much better than last year's winner as a foreign language film, "Life is Beautiful", and is a serious must-see. Just do me a favor: DON'T MISS IT!

Rating: 10/10