Parallel Mothers

        The new film from writer/director Pedro Almodovar is an emotionally engaging story of two single pregnant women. Penelope Cruz stars as Janis, a photographer, who gets pregnant after a brief affair.  She becomes friendly with Ana (played by Milena Smit) when they become hospital roommates after going into labor and giving birth at the same time.

        Ana lives with her mother, an actress who was never really close to her daughter, since Ana had grown up with her father, until she became pregnant. Janis becomes pregnant after an affair with Arturo, a renowned forensic archaeologist, who has agreed to help her find and excavate the mass grave in her home village, where her great-grandfather and others were killed and buried during the Spanish Civil War.

        What starts out as a simple story of two different women who bond over a shared experience, becomes more complex as only Mr. Almodovar can tell it. Ms. Cruz rides an emotional rollercoaster and is simply wonderful as Janis. Ms. Smit shares that ride and the two women have great chemistry between them. Mr. Almodovar has a gift for writing complex women's roles and directing the women who play them.

         As a subplot, the story of the mass grave gives Mr. Almodovar a chance to make a subtle political statement and bring light to his audience, a dark chapter in Spain's history.