Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
Mujeres al borde de un ataque de "nervios" (original title)Reference View | Change View
- R
- 1h 28min
- Comedy, Drama
- 11 Nov 1988 (USA)
- Movie
A television actress encounters a variety of eccentric characters after embarking on a journey to discover why her lover abruptly left her.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 22 wins & 23 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Carmen Maura | ... |
Pepa
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| Antonio Banderas | ... |
Carlos
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| Julieta Serrano | ... |
Lucía
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| María Barranco | ... |
Candela
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| Rossy de Palma | ... |
Marisa
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| Kiti Mánver | ... |
Paulina Morales
(as Kiti Manver)
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| Guillermo Montesinos | ... |
Taxista
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| Chus Lampreave | ... |
Portera Testiga de Jehová
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| Eduardo Calvo | ... |
Padre de Lucía
(as Yayo Calvo)
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| Loles León | ... |
Secretaria
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| Ángel de Andrés López | ... |
Policía I
(as Angel de Andrés-López)
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| Fernando Guillén | ... |
Iván
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Juan Lombardero | ... |
Germán
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José Antonio Navarro | ... |
Policía II
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Ana Leza | ... |
Ana
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Ambite | ... |
Ambite
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Mary González | ... |
Madre Lucía
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Lupe Barrado | ... |
Secretaria Paulina
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| Joaquín Climent | ... |
Policía I Spot
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Chema Gil | ... |
Policía II Spot
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Gabriel Latorre | ... |
Cura
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Francisca Caballero | ... |
Locutora TV
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Carlos García Cambero | ... |
Empleado averías
(as Carlos Gambero)
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| Agustín Almodóvar | ... |
Empleado Inmobiliaria
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Tomás Corrales | ... |
Basurero
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Eva González | ... |
Chica que baila
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Carmen Espada | ... |
Farmacéutica
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Susana Miraño | ... |
Clienta Enmascarada I
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Paquita Fernández | ... |
Clienta Enmascarada II
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Federico García Cambero | ... |
Dependiente Farmacia
(as Federico Gambero)
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Gregorio Ros | ... |
Médico
(as Gregorio Ross)
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Paco Virseda | ... |
Mensajero
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| Imanol Uribe | ... |
Marido
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| José Marco | ... |
Padrino
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Los Angeles Barea | ... |
La Mujer Policía (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Pedro Almodóvar | ||
Written by
| Pedro Almodóvar | ... | (screenplay) |
| Pedro Almodóvar | ... | (story) (uncredited) |
| Jean Cocteau | ... | (play "La Voix humaine") (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Agustín Almodóvar | ... | executive producer |
| Pedro Almodóvar | ... | producer |
| Antonio Llorens | ... | associate producer (as Antonio Lloréns) |
Music by
| Bernardo Bonezzi | ||
Cinematography by
| José Luis Alcaine | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| José Salcedo | ||
Editorial Department
| Manuel Laguna | ... | assistant editor (as Manolo Laguna) |
| Rosa Ortiz | ... | assistant editor (as Rosa Mª. Ortiz) |
| Chema Alba | ... | restoration supervisor (uncredited) (2016 restoration) |
| Luis Escalada | ... | digital restoration (uncredited) |
| Ximo Michavila | ... | telecine colorist (uncredited) |
| Pablo Polo | ... | mastering (uncredited) |
Set Decoration by
| Félix Murcia | ||
Costume Design by
| José María de Cossío | ... | (as José Mª. de Cossío) |
Makeup Department
| Jesús Moncusi | ... | hair stylist |
| Juan Pedro Hernández | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Gregorio Ros | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Esther García | ... | production manager (as Ester García) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Julián Núñez | ... | assistant director |
| Miguel Ángel Pérez Campos | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Emilio Cañuelo | ... | settings |
| Federico del Cerro | ... | set dresser |
| Carlos García Cambero | ... | assistant decorator (as Carlos G. Cambero) |
| David Jareño | ... | property master |
| Daniel Miranda | ... | property master |
| Ramón Moya | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Martín Sánchez Fernández | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Luis Castro | ... | sound effects |
| Eduardo Fernández | ... | sound mixer |
| Gilles Ortion | ... | sound (as Guilles Ortión) |
| Antonio Rodríguez 'Mármol' | ... | boom operator (as Antonio Rodríguez) |
Special Effects by
| Reyes Abades | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Pablo Núñez | ... | titles and opticals: Story Film |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Paulino Alonso | ... | lighting technician |
| Alberto Arnal | ... | electrician |
| Enrique Bello | ... | electrician |
| Fernando Beltrán | ... | electrician |
| Macusa Cores | ... | still photographer |
| Joaquín Manchado | ... | assistant camera |
| Alfredo Mayo | ... | second camera operator |
| Ángel Megino | ... | steadycam operator (as Angel Megino) |
| Carlos Miguel | ... | key grip |
| Fulgencio Rodríguez | ... | gaffer |
| Juan Carlos Rodríguez | ... | assistant camera |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Josune Lasa | ... | tailor |
Location Management
| Juan Carlos Garrido | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Tino Azores | ... | music engineer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marisa Ibarra | ... | script girl |
Transportation Department
| Ángel Frutos | ... | driver |
| Juan Luis Grande | ... | driver: camera car |
| Julián Hernández | ... | driver |
| José Mancheño | ... | driver |
| Ángel Megino | ... | transportation (as Angel Megino) |
Additional Crew
| Emilio Ardura | ... | tapestry |
| Francisco Ardura | ... | animal consultant |
| Fernanda Arnal | ... | production secretary |
| Juan Carlos Caro | ... | second production assistant |
| Tomás Corrales | ... | assistant to director |
| Alicia González | ... | title assistant: Studio Gatti |
| Alfonso Jadraque | ... | licensing |
| Charlie Lázaro | ... | second production assistant |
| Alicia Moreno | ... | cashier |
| Alejandro Vázquez | ... | production assistant |
| Juan Gatti | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Mariano García | ... | acknowledgment |
| Juan Luis Lábano | ... | acknowledgment |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Laurenfilm (1988) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Orion Classics (1988) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Aries Cinematográfica Argentina (1988) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1988) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1988) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Orion Home Video (United States) (video)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Euro Space (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Filmes Castello Lopes (1989) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Hoyts Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Rank Film Distributors (1989) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (subbed)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1989) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Gativideo (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1990) (Germany) (video)
- Showtime (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
- The Home Cinema Group (1990) (Australia) (video) (under the 'Curzon' label)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1994) (Finland) (tv)
- VideoVisa (Mexico) (VHS)
- Nelonen (1997) (Finland) (tv)
- The Criterion Collection (1997) (United States) (video) (laserdisc) (subtitled)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (video) (subtitled)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (video)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (2007) (United States) (DVD) (subtitled)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- Tamasa Distribution (2015) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Albatros Film (2016) (Japan) (DVD)
- Canvas (2016) (Belgium) (tv)
- StudioCanal (2016) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (DVD) (The Almodóvar Collection)
- The Criterion Collection (2017) (United States) (DVD) (subtitled)
- Pathé (2019) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Tamasa Distribution (2019) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital) (subtitled)
- Synapse Distribution (2021) (Non-US) (video) (VOD Latin America)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
- Flashstar Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Block-Korenbrot Public Relations (Publicist)
- Blue Efficience (anti-piracy)
- Camera Rent (camera equipment provided by)
- Cinetel (electrical material)
- Coprisa (financing)
- Decor-Moya (sets)
- Epcar Entertainment (adr production)
- Estudios Exa (sound recording)
- Legiscine (management)
- Peris Hermanos (wardrobe)
- Sastreria Cornejo (wardrobe)
- Sofa Digital Media (aggregator)
- Story Film-Pablo Núñez (titles and opticals)
- Stvdio Gatti (title graphics design)
- Vázquez Hermanos (props)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Pepa's lover, Iván, leaves her and she tries to contact him to find out why he's left. In her search for Iván, she confronts his wife and son, who are as clueless as she is. Meanwhile, Candela, her friend, is afraid the police might be looking for her because of her ex-boyfriend, a muslim terrorist, and his criminal activities. As the plot develops, it is revealed that everyone's lives are more intertwined than they could have ever expected.
Written by Ed Sutton |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $700,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Pedro Almodóvar and Carmen Maura's personal relationship was seriously damaged during the shooting, which Maura even defined as a "living hell". It took 18 years for them to work again, on Volver (2006). See more » |
| Goofs | Candela, while giving Pepa's rabbits water, comments to Carlos about how the rabbits love the turnips they're eating (in the English and French subtitles as well as in the original Spanish audio), but the only vegetables in the cage are leeks, and the rabbits aren't eating them. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Soy infeliz See more » |
| Quotes |
Pepa:
Hello. I'm the mother of the notorious Crossroads Killer. When my son comes home after one of his famous crimes, his clothes are just filthy. [Pepa holds up a bloody shirt. The police arrive] Policía I: Where are the clothes your son wore... Policía II: At the time of the murder? [Pepa takes a clean shirt out of the dryer] Pepa: Right here. Sparkling clean. Policía I: No trace of blood. Policía II: Or guts. Policía I: Unbelievable! [Pepa holds up a box of detergent] Pepa: Ecce Homo. It's unbelievable. See more » |