WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

Spain, 1988, 88 minutes, Colour.
Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas.
Directed by Pedro Almodovar.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is a light-hearted, serious-minded comedy from celebrated Spanish director Pedro Almodovar (Matador, Dark Habits, The Law of Desire). Usually more sober, he treats this story of an actor leaving an actress (via phone-answering machine), the actor's madly violent wife, his son an fiancee, the girl associated with Shiite terrorists as a blend of soap opera and farce - all in bright colours. There are many laughs as everyone plays it very seriously, but underlying it all are themes of hurt, frustration and anger. Oscar-nominated for best foreign film, it is an enjoyable offbeat comedy from Spain.

1.The work of Pedro Almodovar and his vision, humanity, comedy? His homage to Hollywood? His enjoyment of soap opera and farce, blending them?

2.A film emerging from '80s Spain? Film and television? The news of Lady (Ecce Homo), Johnny Guitar and the dubbing, the soap operas, the advertisements? Bright colours, decor? The musical score and the songs?

3.The title and its tone, its relationship to each of the women, emotions, the pressures of modern life? The credits and the fetish?

4.The structure of the film, coincidences, soap opera emotions, farcical incidents, verbal wit, visual wit and style?

5.The portrait of Pepa: asleep, her relationship with Ivan, the dream and his singing like Julio Iglesias and passing all the girls? His wife and the phone call? The studio and the reception? The taxi-driver? Phone calls? The dubbing of Johnny Guitar? The story and her reaction to being ditched by Ivan? Her making the gaspacho? The sleeping pills? Carlos and Marisa and their visit, angers, the phone calls? Caudela and her visit, attempted suicide? The visits and the vigils? The lawyer arriving, the police, the gaspacho putting people to sleep? Pepa becoming more desperate, trying to contact Ivan? Throwing things - including the phone - and hitting the car? The encounter with Lucia and the gun, the melodrama at the airport, her being saved - and some possible peace?

6.Ivan, the women in his life, in Pepa's dream, working with her, the lies, breaking off on the telephone, going to Stockholm? His girlfriend, her being in the car? A coward and his hiding? The build-up to the confrontation at the airport and the shooting?

7.His relationship with Lucia, her madness, the break-up of the marriage, the deception? Lucia and her behaviour at home, going to visit Pepa? Her son? The motor boat ride, the shooting at the airport and her collapse?

8.Caudela, her sexual relationship with the Shiite, the news about the terrorists and their arrest her fear of the police, visiting Pepa, attempted suicide and rescue? Her infatuation with Carlos?

9.Carlos and his fiancee, their demands, the apartment, the irony of his being Ivan's son, relationship with his parents, friendship with Pepa, Caudela, the kiss? Marisa and her unconsciousness?

10.Marisa, her engagement to Carlos, bossy, her treatment of the apartment, the gaspacho and her sleeping, coming awake in the middle of the crisis?

11.The lawyer, his harshness?

12.The portrait of the police, their going to sleep?

13.The taxi and the taxi-driver, the eccentricity of his taxi, driving Pepa, involved in the shooting and the pursuit of Lucia?

14.Echoes of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors and Midsummer Night's Dream? Dreaming and waking?

15.A whimsical comedy? Portrait of characters - broadly designed and performed? Spanish comedy?