Parallel Mothers
{{Short description|2021 film by Pedro Almodóvar}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Parallel Mothers
| image = Parallel Mothers poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|Madres paralelas|nolink=0}}
| director = Pedro Almodóvar
| writer = Pedro Almodóvar
| producer = Agustín Almodóvar
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| cinematography = J. L. Alcaine
| editing = Teresa Font
| music = Alberto Iglesias
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- El Deseo
- Remotamente Films AIE
}}
| distributor = Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2021|9|1|Venice|2021|10|8|Spain}}
| runtime = 120 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2021/venezia-78-competition/madres-paralelas|title=Madres Paralelas|website=Venice International Film Festival|date=19 July 2021|access-date=26 July 2021}}
| country = Spain
| language = Spanish
| budget =
| gross = $21.4 million{{Cite Box Office Mojo|id=12618926 |title=Parallel Mothers (2021)|access-date=May 6, 2022}}
}}
Parallel Mothers ({{langx|es|Madres paralelas|links=no}}) is a 2021 Spanish drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film centers on Janis, played by Penélope Cruz, and Ana (Milena Smit) who give birth on the same day in a hospital. Their lives become intertwined when Janis learns a shocking truth about her daughter's biological heritage. As the film explores their evolving relationships with their children, it also reflects on Spain's unresolved history, particularly the painful legacy of the civil war and the search for missing bodies. Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Israel Elejalde, Julieta Serrano and Rossy de Palma co-star.
The film had its premiere as the opening film of the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2021, where Cruz was awarded the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. It was released theatrically in Spain on 8 October 2021 by Sony Pictures Releasing International. It was also the closing film of the 2021 New York Film Festival on the same day.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.es/play/cine/noticias/abci-madres-paralelas-nueva-pelicula-almodovar-llegara-cartelera-mas-tarde-202108231756_noticia.html|title='Madres paralelas', la nueva película de Almodóvar, llegará a la cartelera un mes más tarde|date=23 August 2021|work=ABC|access-date=11 September 2021|language=es}} The film earned two nominations at the 94th Academy Awards for Best Actress (Cruz) and Best Original Score (Iglesias).
Plot
Photographer Janis Martínez does a photo shoot with renowned forensic archaeologist Arturo. She asks him if his foundation will help excavate a mass grave in her home village, where her great-grandfather and other men from the village were killed and buried during the Spanish Civil War. Arturo agrees to review the case with his foundation; he and Janis then sleep together and Janis becomes pregnant. She decides to keep the baby and raise it alone, against Arturo's wishes, whose wife is undergoing chemotherapy, but who wants to be with Janis.
Janis later shares a hospital room with Ana, a teen single mother; they give birth at the same time. After both babies are held for evaluation, they are released, and Janis and Ana go their separate ways. Janis and Ana stay in touch, keeping one another updated on their babies' progress. Arturo arrives one day asking to see baby Cecilia; he reacts strangely, confessing that he does not believe the baby is his. Janis does a maternity test, which reveals that she is not Cecilia's biological mother, but she decides not to tell anyone. She sacks her au pair.
Months later, Janis runs into Ana working at a cafe near her home; Ana has left her mother's home after her mother left to pursue acting on the road (although she employed a nanny for Ana). Janis invites Ana to her apartment, where Ana tearfully reveals that her baby Anita had suffered a crib death. Janis asks for a photo of Anita, which confirms her suspicions that their babies were swapped in the hospital.
Janis later offers Ana a job as a live-in maid, watching over the house and baby Cecilia. She collects saliva samples from the two of them without telling Ana they are for a maternity test, the results of which confirm that Cecilia is Ana's daughter. Ana later reveals that her pregnancy was the result of a gang rape by her classmates, and her father pressured her into staying silent to avoid negative press attention. The budding relationship between Janis and Ana develops into a casual sexual relationship, but Janis is unable to commit fully to Ana who wants more from her.
Arturo arrives with news that his foundation has approved the excavation of the mass grave, and also that his wife has recovered from cancer and they are separating. He and Janis celebrate with a night out on the town, making Ana jealous. Ana's mother also comes by to reconnect with Ana, admitting to Janis that she feels like a terrible mother, but that she wanted so badly to pursue her dream as an actress.
Janis finally admits the truth to Ana, who reacts angrily and leaves in the night with Cecilia, to Janis' dismay. She calls Arturo and breaks the news to him as well; he spends the night with her, as they console each other. The next morning, Ana calls Janis, having calmed down, and says that Janis is still welcome to see Cecilia and be a part of her life.
Months later, Janis and Arturo travel to her home village, where he gathers information about the grave from surviving relatives and prepares for the excavation with his team. Ana later arrives with Cecilia, Janis revealing to her that she is three months pregnant. When asked what she will name the baby, Janis says Ana if it is a girl and Antonio if it is a boy (after her great-grandfather). The excavation is a success, the village gathering at the exhumed grave to mourn their lost loved ones.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Penélope Cruz as Janis Martínez Moreno
- Milena Smit as Ana Manso Ferreras
- Israel Elejalde as Arturo
- Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as Teresa Ferreras
- Julieta Serrano as Brígida
- Rossy de Palma as Elena
- Pedro Casablanc as the voice of Ana's father
- Adelfa Calvo as Brígida's niece
- Ainhoa Santamaría{{Cite web|url=https://viapais.com.ar/streaming/5-cosas-que-tenes-que-saber-sobre-madres-paralelas-la-nueva-pelicula-de-penelope-cruz/|website=Via País|date=30 November 2021|title=5 cosas que tenes que saber sobre "Madres paralelas", la nueva película de Penélope Cruz}} as babysitter
- Daniela Santiago{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/metropoli/cine/2021/10/09/615adb74fc6c8338408b45e3.html|website=Metrópoli|via=El Mundo|title=5 razones para no perderse 'Madres paralelas', lo nuevo de Almodóvar con Penélope Cruz|date=9 October 2021|first=Javier|last=Estrada}} as model
- Ana Peleteiro{{Cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/quincemil/articulos/cultura/las-conexiones-gallegas-de-la-nueva-pelicula-de-almodovar|website=Quincemil|via=El Español|title=Las conexiones gallegas de la nueva película de Almodóvar|date=23 October 2021|first=Ana|last=Gayoso}} as model
}}
Production
In February 2021 it was announced that Pedro Almodóvar was ready to direct his new film entitled Madres paralelas, with a cast headed by Penélope Cruz, Israel Elejalde, Julieta Serrano and Rossy de Palma.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/penelope-cruz-to-star-in-pedro-almodovars-upcoming-feature-madres-paralelas-filming-in-march-global-bulletin-1234900502/ |title=Penelope Cruz to Star in Pedro Almodóvar's Upcoming Feature 'Madres paralelas,' Filming in March
|first=Jamie|last=Lang|website=Variety|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 4, 2021}} On 12 March 2021, it was reported that Pedro Almodóvar intended to integrate Anya Taylor-Joy into the main cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.elimparcial.com/espectaculos/Anya-Taylor-Joy-en-la-mira-de-Pedro-Almodovar-20210312-0176.html |title=Anya Taylor-Joy, en la mira de Pedro Almodóvar
|author=Agencias/AP|website=El Imparcial|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=March 13, 2021|language=es-MX}}
Principal photography began on 12 March 2021 in Madrid, Spain,{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/almodvar-returns-female-universe-penlope-cruz-76416560 |title=Almodóvar returns to the female universe with Penélope Cruz
|first=Sigal|last=Ratner-Arias|website=ABC News|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=March 13, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jornada.com.mx/notas/2021/02/05/cultura/revelan-reparto-de-madres-paralelas-la-nueva-pelicula-de-almodovar/ |title=Revelan reparto de 'Madres Paralelas', la nueva película de Almodóvar
|author=Europa Press|website=La Jornada|date=February 5, 2021|access-date=March 13, 2021|language=es-MX}}{{cite web|url=https://www.revistagq.com/noticias/articulo/pedro-almodovar-rodaje-madres-paralelas |title=Pedro Almodóvar inicia el rodaje de 'Madres paralelas', su nueva película
|author=Claudio M. de Prado|website=Revista CQ|date=March 22, 2021|access-date=March 22, 2021|language=es-ES}} and concluded on 22 April 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.varietyinsight.com/production_restart_full_view.php?track_id=179994 | title=Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Parallel Mothers |website=Variety Insight |access-date=May 16, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516225704/https://www.varietyinsight.com/production_restart_full_view.php?track_id=179994 |archive-date=May 16, 2021}} Shooting locations included Madrid, Torrelaguna and Torremocha de Jarama.{{cite web|url=https://sede.mcu.gob.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=151020|website=Catálogo de Cinespañol|publisher=ICAA|title=Madres paralelas|access-date=15 September 2021}} Produced by El Deseo and Remotamente Films AIE with the support of RTVE and Netflix, the movie also received funding from the ICAA.{{cite web|url=https://www.audiovisual451.com/pedro-almodovar-finaliza-el-rodaje-de-madres-paralelas-que-cuenta-con-el-apoyo-de-rtve-y-netflix/|website=Audiovisual451|title=Pedro Almodóvar finaliza el rodaje de 'Madres paralelas', que cuenta con el apoyo de RTVE y Netflix|date=2 June 2021}}
Music
{{Main|Parallel Mothers (soundtrack)}}
Release
On 4 February 2021, Pathé acquired the UK distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=http://www.pathe.co.uk/news/parallel-mothers/|title=Pathe UK|website=www.pathe.co.uk}} On 23 April 2021, Sony Pictures Classics acquired the North American, Australian and New Zealand distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/sony-pictures-classic-pedro-almodovar-madres-paralelas-1234958756/|title = Sony Pictures Classic Swoops for Pedro Almodóvar's 'Parallel Mothers'|date = April 23, 2021|work=Variety|first=Manori|last=Ravindran|access-date=September 11, 2021}} The film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2021.{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/venice-2021-pedro-almodovar-madres-paralelas-opening-film-1234984403/|title=Venice Film Festival to Open with Pedro Almodovar's 'Madres Paralelas'|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Alex|last=Ritman|date=19 July 2021|access-date=19 July 2021}} Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia, it was intended to be theatrically released in Spain on 10 September 2021 but was postponed to 8 October.{{cite news |title='Madres paralelas' de Almodóvar retrasa su estreno al 8 de octubre de 2021 |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20210823/retrasi-estreno-madres-paralelas/2163783.shtml |access-date=27 July 2022 |work=RTVE.es |date=23 August 2021 |language=es}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.audiovisual451.com/javier-bardem-alberto-iglesias-y-madres-paralelas-las-nominaciones-espanolas-en-los-79o-globos-de-oro/#:~:text=Tras%20su%20estreno%20en%20el,de%20Sony%20Pictures%20Entertainment%20Iberia.|website=Audiovisual451|title=Javier Bardem, Alberto Iglesias y 'Madres Paralelas', las nominaciones españolas en los 79º Globos de Oro|date=14 December 2021|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/how-spain-is-aiming-to-become-a-world-beating-production-hub/5161342.article|title=How Spain is aiming to become a world-beating production hub|website=Screen International|first=Elisabet|last=Cabeza|date=8 July 2021|access-date=26 July 2021}} It was released in the United States on 24 December 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/video/parallel-mothers-teaser-pedro-almodovar-1234653301/|title=Parallel Mothers' First Footage: Pedro Almodóvar Directs Penélope Cruz in a Swoon-Worthy Mommy Drama |website=IndieWire|first=Ryan|last=Lattanzio|date=26 July 2021|access-date=26 July 2021}} It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2022, and was the first film released under Pathé's new term deal with Warner Bros. Pictures along with The Duke, after their distribution agreement with Disney expired on 30 June 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/parallel-mothers-receives-a-january-uk-release-date/|title=Parallel Mothers receives a January UK release date|date=13 September 2021}}
Its theatrical release poster, featuring a lactating nipple, was removed from Instagram due to its rules regarding nudity. The decision was criticized by the "free the nipple" movement, leading to an apology from Instagram.{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/instagram-pedro-almodovar-poster-nipple-apology-1235039243/ |title=Instagram Apologizes to Pedro Almodóvar for Venice Opener 'Parallel Mothers' Poster Censorship |date=August 11, 2021 |first=Naman |last=Ramachandran |newspaper=Variety}}
Netflix acquired the exclusive distribution rights for the Latin-American region, aiming for an early 2022 release, even if theatrical openings were not ruled out at the time of the announcement.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/netflix-pedro-almodovar-parallel-mothers-latin-america-1235102733/|website=Variety|title=Netflix Acquires Pedro Almodovar's 'Parallel Mothers' for Latin America (EXCLUSIVE)|first1=John|last1=Hopewell|first2=Jamie|last2=Lang|access-date=2 November 2021|date=2 November 2021}} In Argentina, the film premiered in select theatres on 3 February 2022, fifteen days prior to streaming.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/espectaculos/cine/madres-paralelas-pedro-almodovar-estrena-cines-netflix_0_WZt87yhCCP.html|website=Clarín|title=Una buena noticia. Madres paralelas, de Pedro Almodóvar se estrena en cines antes que en Netflix|first=Pablo O.|last=Scholz|date=20 January 2022}}
Themes
Prior to making this film, Almodóvar had typically avoided the Spanish Civil War as subject matter for his films.{{cite web |last1=Kohn |first1=Eric |title='Parallel Mothers': Why It Took Over 40 Years for Pedro Almodovar to Confront Spain's Darkest Chapter |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/consider-this/parallel-mothers-pedro-almodovar-spanish-civil-war-1234670819/ |website=IndieWire |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=2023-10-11 |date=2021-10-11}} In Almodóvar's own words, "It was as though Franco never existed." One other exception was a brief moment in Live Flesh (1997), when a young prostitute (also played by Cruz) gives birth specifically on the day in 1970 (December 4, 1970{{cite news |last1=Eder |first1=Richard |author1-link=Richard Eder |title=Spain puts curbs on a Basque area |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1970/12/05/355164802.html?pageNumber=1 |access-date=2023-10-11 |work=The New York Times |volume=CXX|issue=41,223 |date=1970-12-05 |pages=1, 14}}) when Spain announced a state of exception further limiting citizens' rights. In contrast, his script for Parallel Mothers speaks explicitly of the need to confront Spain's past: "I speak through the voice of Penelope [Cruz]... She's speaking the truth about Spain," whereas Ana's resistance to examining that past is "almost like a cliché narrative for the right wing, which reveals that Ana is coming from a very conservative background." An earlier draft of the script overtly gave Ana a background in the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei.
Reception
=Critical response=
{{Multiple images
| image1 = Goyas 2024 - Penélope Cruz-2 (cropped).jpg
| footer = Penélope Cruz won a Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her performance.
| total_width = 200
}}
At its opening night world premiere, the movie received a nine-minute standing ovation from Venice Film Festival attendees in the Sala Grande.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/pedro-almodovars-parallel-mothers-brings-lido-to-its-feet-with-nine-minute-standing-ovation-1234825777/|title=Pedro Almodóvar's 'Parallel Mothers' Brings Lido To Its Feet With Nine-Minute Standing Ovation – Venice|website=Deadline Hollywood|first1=Nancy|last1=Tartaglione|date=1 September 2021|access-date=11 September 2021}} It was submitted to be the Spanish entry to the 94th Academy Awards alongside Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea and The Good Boss, but the latter film was the final official selection.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.es/play/cine/noticias/abci-buen-patron-javier-bardem-candidata-espana-oscar-202110051158_noticia.html|website=abcplay|publisher=ABC|title=La Academia aparta a Almodóvar y confía los Oscar a 'El buen patrón' de León de Aranoa|first=Lucía M.|last=Cabanelas|date=5 October 2021}}
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=96|count=226|average=8.1|consensus=A brilliant forum for Penélope Cruz's talent, Parallel Mothers reaffirms the familiar pleasures of Almodóvar's filmmaking while proving he's still capable of growth.|ref=yes |access-date=July 26, 2022}} {{Metacritic film prose| score=88 |count=46 |ref=yes |access-date=}}
Filmmaker and playwright Florian Zeller praised the film, saying "They are mothers, sisters or daughters, and with his incredible talent as a writer, which places his characters at the heart of his scenarios, Pedro Almodóvar builds complex emotional stories, missed appointments and intertwined destinies."{{Cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/lists/directors-favorite-films-2021-olivia-wilde-george-miller/|title=Directors on Directors: Filmmakers Analyze 2021 Favorites From ‘In the Heights’ to ‘The Harder They Fall’|magazine=Variety|date=December 16, 2021|access-date=March 11, 2025}}
=Top ten lists=
The film appeared on many film critics' top ten lists for 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-10-best-movies-of-2021 |title=Metacritic: 2021 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326215631/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-10-best-movies-of-2021 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |url-status = dead|df=dmy }}
Accolades
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|12618926}}
{{Pedro Almodóvar}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Parallel Mothers
|list =
{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Foreign Language Film}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2021 LGBTQ-related films
Category:2020s female buddy films
Category:2020s Spanish-language films
Category:Films about female bisexuality
Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships
Category:Films about photographers
Category:Films directed by Pedro Almodóvar
Category:Films scored by Alberto Iglesias
Category:2020s LGBTQ-related drama films