Almodovar time and time again creates powerful female roles in his films, but here is his love letter to the female sex.
On his seventeenth birthday, Manuela witnesses her son run down and killed by a car while he is pursuing his idol, Huma Roja, for her autograph.
For his birthday Manuella promised to tell Esteban about his father whose identity she had kept from him all his life. Overcome with guilt and grief she moves to Barcelona to tell his father about the son he never knew he had. The reason she was keeping him a secret is that the father is a transvestite prostitute called Lola. During her quest she forms friendships with her old friend and Lola's transsexual roommate Agrado; Sister Rosa a church social worker who Lola has not only impregnated, but has infected with HIV; and Huma when her play comes to town and she becomes her assistant.
This motley crew of women form a deep bond as thy share each others heartbreak and emotions.
It's a beautifully filmed work. Almodovar and cinematographer Affonso Beato cast a luxuriant glow over everything, be it a theatre to a circle of cars picking up prostitute. All roles of life are given equal respect.
I think that is what I love about Almodovar's films. Everything is luxuriant and everyone is shown with respect, in particular his roles for women. Hollywood should really take a few leafs from his book.
Look at the central roles. A successful single mother, a transsexual prostitute, a nun, a lesbian actress. All female. All played magnificently by the outstanding cast, all written with the greatest love and respect. the film also takes a bow to A Streetcar Named Desire and All About Eve. Manuella's life is highlighted in both of them and these films are also have strong central female characters.
At the end of the film is a dedication:-
"To all the women who have played actresses... who can act... to men who act and become women... to all the people who want to be mothers... to my mother."
I ♥ Pedro
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