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Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Starring: Carmen Maura, Maria Barranco, Julieta Serrano
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Genre: Comedy
Year: 1988
Rating: 3 / 5

Reviewed by Guest Scribe Legend

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is an old favorite among many in the foreign film section of the local Blockbuster. It's one of those films whose comedy does not lie with jokes, but in the eccentric and unbelievable situations in which the protagonists find themselves. For the record, this film was nominated for the best foreign language film Oscar back in 1988, and is certainly interesting.

The film is about three women who basically, well, are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The main player, Pepa (Carmen Maura), has been slighted by her lover, a co-worker of hers in the language dubbing industry. He doesn't return her phone calls for a few days, and she loses it a bit. Rips out the phone jack, lights the bed on fire, that sort of thing. Can we say overreaction? Her lover is on his way out of town to Stockholm with his new girlfriend and can't be bothered by Pepa.

Meanwhile, Pepa's friend Candela (María Barranco) comes over absolutely hysterical. She's even more on the verge of a nervous breakdown than Pepa is. She's ready to jump off a balcony, since she slept with a man and housed his friends for a few days. No big deal, except that they turned out to be terrorists, and she's afraid she'll be implicated for harboring them.

This is all too simple. That's why Carlos (Antonio Banderas) and his fiancé Marisa (Rossy de Palma) show up interested in leasing Pepa's apartment. Lo and behold, Carlos happens to be the son of Pepa's lover! Extra points to Almodóvar here for casting de Palma. She is so ugly it's downright hilarious.

Lastly, there's Lucía (Julieta Serrano). She's Carlos' mother and the wife of Ivan (Pepa's lover), and she's just crazy. More points for her strange selection of hats, makeup, and hairdos. She has actually escaped from the insane asylum, and chaos ensues when she turns up at Pepa's, coincidentally with two policemen.

What results is a mass drugging from barbiturate-laced gazpacho, a motorcycle chase, an attempted assassination, a thwarting of a terrorist bombing and lots of oddball fun. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is definitely a brand of European comedy that many will simply not fully appreciate. However, if you find things extremely odd and unbelievable circumstances as funny, then this one is probably right up your alley.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R.
Running Time: 90 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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