Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1988)

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writers:

Pedro Almodóvar (screenplay)
Pedro Almodóvar (story)
(more)

Release Date:

11 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A woman's lover leaves her, and she tries to contact him to find out why he's left. She confronts his wife and son...

Plot Keywords:

Sleeping Pill | Burning Bed | Betrayal | Nervous Breakdown | Womanizer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 20 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Carmen Maura	...	Pepa
Antonio Banderas	...	Carlos
Julieta Serrano	...	Lucía
María Barranco	...	Candela
Rossy de Palma	...	Marisa
Kiti Manver	...	Paulina Morales
Guillermo Montesinos	...	Taxista
Chus Lampreave	...	Portera Testiga de Jehová
Eduardo Calvo	...	Padre de Lucía (as Yayo Calvo)
Loles León	...	Secretaria
Ángel de Andrés López	...	Policía I (as Angel de Andrés-López)
Fernando Guillén	...	Iván
Juan Lombardero	...	Germán
José Antonio Navarro	...	Policía II
Ana Leza	...	Ana
Ambite	...	Ambite
Mary González	...	Madre Lucía
Lupe Barrado	...	Secretaria Paulina
Joaquín Climent	...	Policía I Spot
Chema Gil	...	Policía II Spot
Gabriel Latorre	...	Cura
Francisca Caballero	...	Locutora TV
Carlos García Cambero	...	Empleado averías (as Carlos Gambero)
Agustín Almodóvar	...	Empleado Inmobiliaria
Tomás Corrales	...	Basurero
Eva González	...	Chica que baila
Carmen Espada	...	Farmacéutica
Susana Miraño	...	Clienta Enmascarada I
Paquita Fernández	...	Clienta Enmascarada II
Federico G. Cambero	...	Dependiente Farmacia (as Federico Gambero)
Gregorio Ros	...	Médico (as Gregorio Ross)
Paco Virseda	...	Mensajero
Imanol Uribe	...	Marido
José Marco	...	Padrino

Directed by
Pedro Almodóvar

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Pedro Almodóvar		screenplay
Pedro Almodóvar		story
Jean Cocteau		play "La voix humaine" (uncredited)

Produced by
Agustín Almodóvar	....	executive producer
Pedro Almodóvar	....	producer
Antonio Llorens	....	associate producer (as Antonio Lloréns)

Original Music by
Bernardo Bonezzi

Cinematography by
José Luis Alcaine

Film Editing by
José Salcedo

Set Decoration by
Emilio Cañuelo		(settings)
Félix Murcia

Costume Design by
José María De Cossío		(as José Mª. de Cossío)

Makeup Department
Jesús Moncusi	....	hair stylist
Gregorio Ros	....	makeup artist
Juan Pedro Hernández	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Esther García	....	production manager (as Ester García)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julián Núñez	....	assistant director
Miguel Ángel Pérez Campos	....	assistant director

Art Department
Federico del Cerro	....	set dresser
Carlos García Cambero	....	assistant decorator (as Carlos G. Cambero)
David Jareño	....	property master
Ramón Moya	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Luis Castro	....	sound effects
Eduardo Fernández	....	sound mixer
Gilles Ortion	....	sound (as Guilles Ortión)
Antonio Rodríguez 'Mármol'	....	boom operator (as Antonio Rodríguez)

Special Effects by
Reyes Abades	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Pablo Núñez	....	titles and opticals (as Pablo Nuñez)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paulino Alonso	....	lighting technician
Alberto Arnal	....	electrician
Enrique Bello	....	electrician
Fernando Beltrán	....	electrician
Macusa Cores	....	still photographer
Joaquín Manchado	....	assistant camera
Alfredo F. Mayo	....	second camera operator (as Alfredo Mayo)
Carlos Miguel	....	key grip
Fulgencio Rodríguez	....	chief electrician
Juan Carlos Rodríguez	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Josune Lasa	....	tailor

Editorial Department
Manolo Laguna	....	assistant editor
Ximo Michavila	....	telecine colorist
Rosa Ortiz	....	assistant editor (as Rosa Mª. Ortiz)

Music Department
Tino Azores	....	music engineer
Lola Beltrán	....	soloist

Transportation Department
Ángel Frutos	....	driver
Julián Hernández	....	driver
José Mancheño	....	driver
Ángel Megino	....	transportation (as Angel Megino)

Other crew
Emilio Ardura	....	tapestry
Paco Ardura	....	animal consultant (as Francisco Ardura)
Fernanda Arnal	....	production secretary
Juan Carlos Caro	....	second production assistant
Tomás Corrales	....	assistant to director
Juan Carlos Garrido	....	location manager
Alicia González	....	title assistant: Studio Gatti
Marisa Ibarra	....	script girl
Alfonso Jadraque	....	permissions
Carlos Lázaro	....	second production assistant
Alicia Moreno	....	cashier
Alejandro Vázquez	....	production assistant
Juan Gatti	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Mariano García	....	acknowledgment
Juan Luis Lábano	....	acknowledgment

Production Companies

• El Deseo S.A.
• Laurenfilm

Distributors

• Laurenfilm (1988) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Orion Classics (1988) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (video)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1989) (Germany) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1990) (Germany) (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (video)
• Euro Space (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Flashstar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Camera Rent  camera equipment provided by
• Cinetel  electrical material
• Coprisa  financing
• Cornejo  wardrobe
• Decor-Moya  sets
• Exa S.A.  sound recording
• Legis Cine S.A.  management
• Perís Hermanos  wardrobe (as Peris Hnos.)
• Story Film-Pablo Núñez  titles and opticals
• Stvdio Gatti  title graphics design
• Vázquez Hermanos  props (as Vázquez Hnos.)

Also Known As:

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (USA)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2005) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Estudios Barajas, Madrid, Spain

Company:

El Deseo S.A.

Trivia:

Victoria Abril turned down the role of 'Candela'

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Pepa pushes the baggage cart at Lucia and it moves with a great deal of speed. However, in the next shot, it's obvious that the cart barely hits her, yet she falls as if it did.

Quotes:

Carlos: What happened?
Pepa: She fell asleep.
Candela: So suddenly?
Pepa: Yes. The strangest things can happen suddenly.
Paulina Morales: She must turn herself in, go to jail, and let the jury decide her case.
Pepa: I don't understand.
Paulina Morales: She's committed a crime.
Pepa: Her only crime was falling in love and being afraid. I'd do the same.
Paulina Morales: I'm sure.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus (#6.21)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Capricho Español

My brief review of the film

An interesting Spanish comedy, the film's humour is derived mostly from the events being so absurd. Some aspects are overly ridiculous, but it is still very entertaining stuff, executed in a lively manner with an appropriately fast pace and suitable music choices. It is constantly interesting on a visual level, with vibrant colours, creative camera angles, and a lot of framing and close-up shots. The action is a bit frantic and the plot is a little too convoluted, but the film maintains an almost fantasy-like atmosphere, in which it feels like anything is possible, and this quality makes it an enjoyable, unique watch. It is hard to say if Almodóvar is trying to say anything at all here, as there are some ideas raised about consequences that are not explored in much depth. Still, the originality of it all keeps it afloat, and it is certainly quite an unusual (in a positive sense) cinematic experience.