Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown

( 2 )

Overview

Though the kinky characters and aberrant social behavior common to the works of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar are very evident in his Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the film is at heart a door-slamming farce in the grand tradition. The tiny apartment of pregnant actress Carmen Maura is the "Grand Central Station" setpiece for this dizzying tale. Distraught over her recent breakup with her lover, Carmen prepares to overdose on sleeping pills, which she blends into a gazpacho so they'll go down ...
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Overview

Though the kinky characters and aberrant social behavior common to the works of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar are very evident in his Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the film is at heart a door-slamming farce in the grand tradition. The tiny apartment of pregnant actress Carmen Maura is the "Grand Central Station" setpiece for this dizzying tale. Distraught over her recent breakup with her lover, Carmen prepares to overdose on sleeping pills, which she blends into a gazpacho so they'll go down easier. She is diverted from her suicide by her best friend Maria Barranco, a fugitive from justice her boy friend is a Shi'Ite terrorist who needs a place to stay. Later, when Carmen's apartment is empty, her ex-lover's grown son Antonio Banderas comes to the apartment with his fiance Rossy de Palma in answer to Carmen's "room to let" newspaper ad. The wife inadvertently ingests Carmen's "pill sauce," and as she blissfully snoozes, the husband inaugurates an affair with Carmen's friend Barranco.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide
Pedro Almodóvar at his outrageous best, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is the most delightful of farces: charming and kinetic, it envelops a message of strange lucidity in a package of vibrant absurdity. Everything in the film's parallel universe abides by its own bizarre but oddly rational logic, from the premise that a forgotten pitcher of sleeping pill-spiked gazpacho meant for one person's suicide will of course be consumed by someone else, to the idea that no matter how much of a lout your ex-lover may be, he's no match for the Shiite terrorist your best friend happens to be dating. Throw in the ex-lover's gun-toting, bewigged wife; a tangle of friends, lovers, and their previously unheard-of relations who all show up at the same place; and a bed set afire by a stray cigarette, and you have the unique reality of Pedro Almodóvar. Almodóvar had previously directed a number of films that found success (and, more often than not, controversy) in his native Spain, such as Matador, Law of Desire, and What Have I Done to Deserve This?, but none reached the level of international acclaim achieved by Women. A stylish, sophisticated farce, it was a perfect blend of the director's candy-colored vision and his offbeat, devilishly witty brand of humor. In addition to establishing him as a master of farce, the film enhanced Almodóvar's reputation as a woman's director and solidified his standing as an important figure in world cinema, with many critics hailing him as the most significant Spanish director since Luis Buñuel.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/3/2009
  • UPC: 043396332218
  • Original Release: 1988

    • Rating:

  • Source: Sony Pictures
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Wide Screen / Subtitled
  • Time: 1:29:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 5,046

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Carmen Maura Pepa
Antonio Banderas Carlos
Fernando Guillén Ivan
Julieta Serrano Lucia
Maria Barranco Candela
Rossy de Palma Marisa
Kiti Manver Paulina
Chus Lampreave
Yayo Calvo
Loles Leon
Angel de Andrés Lopez
Agustín Almodóvar Empleado Inmobiliaria
Lupe Barrado Secretaria Paulina
Gabriel Latorre Cura
Jose Marco Padrino
Guillermo Montesinos
Imanol Uribe Marido
Technical Credits
Pedro Almodóvar Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Jose Luis Alcaine Cinematographer
Agustín Almodóvar Executive Producer
Bernardo Bonezzi Score Composer
Jose Maria de Cossio Costumes/Costume Designer
Esther Garcia Production Manager
Gilles Ortion Sound/Sound Designer
José Salcedo Editor
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdwon
1. Words of Romance [7:33]
2. Fainting Love [6:53]
3. Nerves on Edge [6:32]
4. Chasing Cabs [6:07]
5. Family Ties [6:08]
6. Chance Encounter [9:35]
7. Terrorist Trouble [9:30]
8. Secret Fugitives [8:10]
9. Ivan's Baggage [8:27]
10. Gazpacho for Everyone [6:51]
11. Crazy Woman [4:42]
12. Losing Her [8:03]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdwon
   Play Movie
   Subtitles
      English
      French
      Subtitles: Off
   Scene Selections
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 2 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Women...etc

    Almodovar's best film shown here in the U.S. That taxi driver cracks me up everytime I see that picture. It was on here in the NYC area last night.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    An Brilliant Comedy of Errors

    Almodovar orchestrates a brilliant comedy of errors with an edge that American films lack. An ensemble of wacky characters get themselves into bizarre situations, and it's all swirling around the beautiful Carmen Maura. You'll laugh your *bleep* off.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews