Almodovar's "All About My Mother"

Please consider some of the topics below for a discussion of the film on your blog and in class.

1. The themes of : desire, desire to know about others, death, (re)birth. How does the film link them together?

2. The theme of communication or the lack thereof in the film. How does Almodovar emphasize this in the film, among which characters, and why?

3. The community of women the film establishes.

4. The 'range' of women in the film, including straight women, a pregnant HIV+ nun, transsexual prostitutes, lesbians. What do you think the film states about gender, femininity and sexuality?

5. Who is the "mother" of the film's title? Might there be more than one "mother"? (Also, who is the speaking "I" - 'my mother' - of the title?) Why and how?

6. A character study of Agrado (especially her speech - how can she claim to be "very authentic"?), Manuela, Huma, or Rosa.

7. Almodovar's dedication at the end of the film: "To all actresses who have played actresses. To all women who act. To men who act and become women. To all the people who want to be mothers. To my mother."