Mujeres all Borde De um Ataque De Nervios", or, simply "Mujeres", is a movie that offers the audience a glimpse into the mind of "the woman" (emocionally and intellectually). It is very exciting, a little suspenseful, and funny all at the same time. Pedro Almodovar directed the film in 1988 and it was nominated for the best foreign movie at he Oscars. The movie did not win the Oscar, but it was a huge success in the United States and world-wide. The protagonist, "Pepa", is played by Carmen Maura, a very talented actress. Carmen Maura has starred in other movies by Pedro Almodovar as well. He likes to use the same actors and actresses in his movies, for example, Antonio Banderas who is in this movie as the son (insecure and stuttering) of the first lover of Ivan, Lucia. The movie takes place in Madrid during the 1980's. The culture then was recuperating from the dictatorship of Franco. Under Franco the women had little rights: they couldn't work, they couldn't take birth control pills, everyone (even men) couldn't be homosexual publicly, and many others. Because of this, after Franco the culture became much more liberal and this movie reflects this movement. For example, Ivan has sex with many women and it seems to be that almost all the characters are having sex with someone outside of marriage, Pepa, a woman, has a very famous and respectable job, Candela as well, religion seems to be inexistent and drugs and sleeping pills are easily accessible. These sorts of things were prohibited under Franco. For the whole course of the movie Pepa, the lover of Ivan, is trying to get ah-old of him so that they can speak, but she cannot find him and it seems that he is avoiding her. Pepa's search for Ivan drives her crazy (because she cannot control her emotions). Candela, one of Pepa's friends and a model, has become frantic herself because she had sex with a terrorist that the police have recently detained. Candela is worried that the terrorists are going to inform the police that she allowed them to stay with her. So, Candela goes to Pepa's apartment for help, but Ivan's son and his fiancé interrupt them. In my opinion, Carmen Maura does a great job in the movie as Pepa. She is very convincing and natural; she plays the role perfectly. Antonio Banderas is good also, but I feel that he was a little inexperienced. The music in the movie is good, especially the "mango" music in the scenes inside the taxi. All in all, I think that Almodovar made a movie of suspense and excitement. The film showed me a side of women that I didn't know existed; it was a little enlightening for me. I liked the movie because it was suspenseful, the acting is great, it is directed well, and I learned something by watching it. I want my friends to see it because some of them think that women are weaker than men. I think they can learn from watching this movie.
