All About My Mother

ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (1999) - January 4, 2010
Almodóvar is fairly well known for telling stories with very strong female characters, and that is certainly the case here.  The film is pretty much all women, with only a few men on the absolute periphery, and a couple of transvestites thrown in for good measure.  Though there is one main character (a woman who loses her son and who travels to Barcelona to try to find his father), the movie is more of an ensemble, with some really strong performances all around. The film is pretty much plotless, but when the characters and performances are this strong, the importance of having a well-defined plot is significantly reduced.  One of the things that has really stood out for me in all of the Almodóvar films I’ve seen so far is his beautiful use of the widescreen frame. I also like Almodóvar’s bold use of colour. You have to admire a director who can consistently craft visually interesting shots; there’s something about a really well composed 2.35 frame that’s just irresistible, at least to a nerd such as myself. A director with a clear visual sense who also has a strong command of characters and storytelling is definitely something to be treasured. Almodóvar, at least based on the three films of his that I’ve seen, seems to be one of those directors.  ***1/2