# Parallel Mothers

Parallel Mothers (Spanish: Madres paralelas) 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. 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

* 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 as babysitter
* Daniela Santiago as model
* Ana Peleteiro 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. On 12 March 2021, it was reported that Pedro Almodóvar intended to integrate Anya Taylor-Joy into the main cast of the film.
Principal photography began on 12 March 2021 in Madrid, Spain, and concluded on 22 April 2021. Shooting locations included Madrid, Torrelaguna and Torremocha de Jarama. Produced by El Deseo and Remotamente Films AIE with the support of RTVE and Netflix, the movie also received funding from the ICAA.

## Release

On 4 February 2021, Pathé acquired the UK distribution rights to the film. On 23 April 2021, Sony Pictures Classics acquired the North American, Australian and New Zealand distribution rights to the film. The film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 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. It was released in the United States on 24 December 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.
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.
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. In Argentina, the film premiered in select theatres on 3 February 2022, fifteen days prior to streaming.

## Themes

Prior to making this film, Almodóvar had typically avoided the Spanish Civil War as subject matter for his films. 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) 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

At its opening night world premiere, the movie received a nine-minute standing ovation from Venice Film Festival attendees in the Sala Grande. 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.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 226 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "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." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 88 out of 100, based on 46 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
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."

### Top ten lists

The film appeared on many film critics' top ten lists for 2007.
| Rank | Critic | Publication |
| 4th | David Rooney | The Hollywood Reporter |
| 4th | Ty Burr | — |
| 5th | Stephanie Zacharek | The Times |
| 6th | Lovia Gyarkye | The Hollywood Reporter |
| 6th | Justin Chang | Los Angeles Times |
| 8th | Carlos Aguilar | RogerEbert.com |
| 9th | Leah Greenblatt | Entertainment Weekly |
| 9th | Jason Shawhan | Nashville Scene |
| 10th | — | Indiewire |
| 10th | Owen Gleiberman | Variety |

## Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Venice International Film Festival | 11 September 2021 | Golden Lion | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| Venice International Film Festival | 11 September 2021 | Queer Lion | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| Venice International Film Festival | 11 September 2021 | Volpi Cup for Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Won |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | 17 November 2021 | Score - Independent Film (Foreign Language) | Alberto Iglesias | Won |
| Forqué Awards | 11 December 2021 | Best Fiction or Animation Film | Best Fiction or Animation Film | Nominated |
| Forqué Awards | 11 December 2021 | Best Film Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Forqué Awards | 11 December 2021 | Cinema and Education in Values | Cinema and Education in Values | Nominated |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | 18 December 2021 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Won |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | 18 December 2021 | Best Music/Score | Alberto Iglesias | Won |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | 8 January 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Won |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | 8 January 2022 | Best Screenplay | Pedro Almodovar | Runner-up |
| Golden Globe Awards | 9 January 2022 | Best Foreign Language Film | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 9 January 2022 | Best Original Score | Alberto Iglesias | Nominated |
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | 10 January 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Won |
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | 10 January 2022 | Best Original Screenplay | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | 10 January 2022 | Best Foreign Language Film | Best Foreign Language Film | Won |
| San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards | 10 January 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards | 10 January 2022 | Best Foreign Language Film | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated |
| Austin Film Critics Association Awards | 11 January 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Austin Film Critics Association Awards | 11 January 2022 | Best International Film | Best International Film | Nominated |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | 16 January 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Runner-up |
| AACTA International Awards | 26 January 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Drama Film | Agustín Almodóvar, Esther García | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Director | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Actress in a Film | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Supporting Actress in a Film | Aitana Sánchez-Gijón | Won |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Supporting Actress in a Film | Milena Smit | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Original Soundtrack | Alberto Iglesias | Won |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Trailer | Alberto Leal | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 29 January 2022 | Best Poster | Javier Jaén (for the Poster A) | Won |
| London Critics' Circle Film Awards | 6 February 2022 | Actress of the Year | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| 77th CEC Medals | 9 February 2022 | Best Film | Best Film | Nominated |
| 77th CEC Medals | 9 February 2022 | Best Director | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| 77th CEC Medals | 9 February 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| 77th CEC Medals | 9 February 2022 | Best Supporting Actress | Milena Smit | Nominated |
| 77th CEC Medals | 9 February 2022 | Best Cinematography | José Luis Alcaine | Nominated |
| 77th CEC Medals | 9 February 2022 | Best Score | Alberto Iglesias | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Film | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Director | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Supporting Actress | Aitana Sánchez-Gijón | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Supporting Actress | Milena Smit | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Cinematography | José Luis Alcaine | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Art Direction | Antxón Gomez | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 12 February 2022 | Best Sound | Sergio Bürmann, Laia Casanovas, Marc Orts | Nominated |
| Houston Film Critics Society Awards | 19 February 2022 | Best Picture | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| Houston Film Critics Society Awards | 19 February 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Houston Film Critics Society Awards | 19 February 2022 | Best Foreign Language Film | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| César Awards | 25 February 2022 | Best Foreign Film | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 6 March 2022 | Best International Film | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | 13 March 2022 | Best Film Not in the English Language | Parallel Mothers | Nominated |
| Actors and Actresses Union Awards | 14 March 2022 | Best Film Actress in a Leading Role | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Actors and Actresses Union Awards | 14 March 2022 | Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role | Aitana Sánchez-Gijón | Nominated |
| Dorian Awards | 17 March 2022 | Best LGBTQ Film | Best LGBTQ Film | Nominated |
| Dorian Awards | 17 March 2022 | Best Non-English Language Film | Best Non-English Language Film | Nominated |
| Dorian Awards | 17 March 2022 | Best Film Performance | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2 April 2022 | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2 April 2022 | Best Original Screenplay | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2 April 2022 | Best Original Score | Alberto Iglesias | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 27 March 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | 27 March 2022 | Best Original Score | Alberto Iglesias | Nominated |
| GLAAD Media Awards | 2 April 2022 | Outstanding Film – Limited Release | Parallel Mothers | Won |
| Fotogramas de Plata | 4 April 2022 | Best Spanish Film (according to readers) | Best Spanish Film (according to readers) | Won |
| Fotogramas de Plata | 4 April 2022 | Best Film Actress | Penélope Cruz | Won |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Best Ibero-American Film | Best Ibero-American Film | Nominated |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Best Director | Pedro Almodóvar | Nominated |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Best Original Score | Alberto Iglesias | Won |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Best Supporting Actress | Aitana Sánchez-Gijón | Won |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Best Supporting Actress | Milena Smit | Nominated |
| Platino Awards | 1 May 2022 | Art Direction | Antxón Gómez | Won |
| European Film Awards | 10 December 2022 | Best Actress | Penélope Cruz | Nominated |