All About My Mother: Pedro Almodóvar’s melodrama is very intense, almost larger-than-life in its emotions and characters, but it’s also insightful, caring, touching, and efficient. The film follows a mother who, after losing her young son, moves back to Barcelona to find the kid’s father, and connects or reconnects with a group of very diverse women. Performances are stellar: Cecilia Roth plays the protagonist, strong, competent, but emotionally broken after her loss; Antonia San Juan plays an old friend, a transsexual prostitute with a heart of gold; Penélope Cruz, as a young missionary, is quite efficient; and Marisa Paredes, who plays an aging theater actress, is also excellent. Production designer Antxón Gómez provides several beautiful sets filled with strong colours and visual patterns, all very striking. Cinematographer Affonso Beato captures it all elegantly. Composer Alberto Iglesias’ musical score is gorgeous.