Mothers & Melodrama: Pedro Almodóvar & Penélope Cruz Pass
Award-winning director Pedro Almodóvar and star actress Penélope Cruz have collaborated on no less than seven feature films. Almodóvar is one of Spain’s most highly regarded filmmakers, acclaimed for his colourful films that blend camp melodrama and serious explorations of sex, family relationships and violence with a unique mix of comedic and thriller approaches. Meanwhile, Cruz, who first worked with Almodóvar on the 1997 feature Live Flesh, has subsequently become an internationally renowned, Oscar-winning actress known for the likes of Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008), Vanilla Sky (2001) and Ferrari (2023). Across their collaborations, Cruz has most often portrayed mothers, offering tender, dramatic portrayals to Almodóvar’s career-long preoccupation with the complexities of motherhood.
This spotlight features four key works from their decades-long collaboration, highlighting two artists at the top of their craft and the magical portrayals of mothers and melodrama they have achieved together.
All About My Mother
SAT 7 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
1999 | M | 101 mins | 35mm | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles
Grieving the sudden loss of her teenage son, Argentine nurse Manuela (Cecilia Roth) explores her identity as a mother through old friendships and new bonds, including with Rosa, a pregnant nun (Penélope Cruz), and actors Huma and Nina, the latter wrestling with addiction.
One of Almodóvar’s most highly acclaimed works, All About My Mother won the Oscar for Best International Film among numerous accolades. With his signature melodrama, Almodóvar offers a visually rich masterwork and a complex interrogation of gender, HIV, faith and parenthood.
‘It weaves life and art into a rich tapestry of love, loss and compassion’ – The New York Times
Presented on 35mm film prints from the NFSA collection.
&
Volver
THU 12 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
2006 | M | 120 mins | 35mm | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles
Working-class mother Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) takes drastic action to protect her daughter after a violent and traumatic incident. As one thing leads to another, her sister, her aunt’s neighbour, and the ghost of her mother cross paths, bringing intergenerational drama and decades-old secrets to the surface.
Director Pedro Almodóvar once more uses comedy and melodrama to explore confronting themes including homicide, infidelity, sexual abuse and illness. Leading an ensemble cast, Cruz received her first Oscar nomination for her starring role.
‘A deeply entertaining experience that engages our hearts as well as our funny bones’ – Washington Post
Presented on 35mm film prints from the NFSA collection.
&
Parallel Mothers
THU 19 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
2021 | M | 123 mins | DCP | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles, Closed Captions available
Two women meet in a maternity ward: Janis (Penélope Cruz) is a middle-aged photographer who fell pregnant after a fraught one-night stand, while Ana (Milena Smit) is a single teenager. When Janis and Ana give birth on the same day, their lives become inextricably linked as they navigate new motherhood.
In true Pedro Almodóvar style, colourful melodrama quickly surfaces deeper truths and traumas as both women find themselves confronting secrets past and present. Parallel Mothers was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Actress (Cruz) and Best Original Score.
‘…a movie of infinite tenderness, that rare ode to motherhood that acknowledges mothers as women first and mothers second’ – Time
&
I’m So Excited!
THU 26 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
2012 | MA15+ | 90 mins | DCP | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles
Three camp and slightly bitter air stewards take their passengers, and the audience, on a wild flight to Mexico City in this colourful Spanish comedy set on an airplane. Drugs, alcohol and sexual licence abound amidst the turbulence and mishaps of the journey as both passengers and crew discover a lot more about themselves, and each other, than they previously knew.
Farcical and larger-than-life, I’m So Excited! overflows with director Pedro Almodóvar’s signature melodrama.
‘ In Pedro Almodóvar's ecstatic return to his signature bawdy comedy, the commonplace – a flight from Madrid to Mexico – is made outrageous, and a literally heightened atmosphere returns a group of variously suspended characters to the world’ – SBS
This spotlight features four key works from their decades-long collaboration, highlighting two artists at the top of their craft and the magical portrayals of mothers and melodrama they have achieved together.
All About My Mother
SAT 7 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
1999 | M | 101 mins | 35mm | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles
Grieving the sudden loss of her teenage son, Argentine nurse Manuela (Cecilia Roth) explores her identity as a mother through old friendships and new bonds, including with Rosa, a pregnant nun (Penélope Cruz), and actors Huma and Nina, the latter wrestling with addiction.
One of Almodóvar’s most highly acclaimed works, All About My Mother won the Oscar for Best International Film among numerous accolades. With his signature melodrama, Almodóvar offers a visually rich masterwork and a complex interrogation of gender, HIV, faith and parenthood.
‘It weaves life and art into a rich tapestry of love, loss and compassion’ – The New York Times
Presented on 35mm film prints from the NFSA collection.
&
Volver
THU 12 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
2006 | M | 120 mins | 35mm | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles
Working-class mother Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) takes drastic action to protect her daughter after a violent and traumatic incident. As one thing leads to another, her sister, her aunt’s neighbour, and the ghost of her mother cross paths, bringing intergenerational drama and decades-old secrets to the surface.
Director Pedro Almodóvar once more uses comedy and melodrama to explore confronting themes including homicide, infidelity, sexual abuse and illness. Leading an ensemble cast, Cruz received her first Oscar nomination for her starring role.
‘A deeply entertaining experience that engages our hearts as well as our funny bones’ – Washington Post
Presented on 35mm film prints from the NFSA collection.
&
Parallel Mothers
THU 19 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
2021 | M | 123 mins | DCP | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles, Closed Captions available
Two women meet in a maternity ward: Janis (Penélope Cruz) is a middle-aged photographer who fell pregnant after a fraught one-night stand, while Ana (Milena Smit) is a single teenager. When Janis and Ana give birth on the same day, their lives become inextricably linked as they navigate new motherhood.
In true Pedro Almodóvar style, colourful melodrama quickly surfaces deeper truths and traumas as both women find themselves confronting secrets past and present. Parallel Mothers was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Actress (Cruz) and Best Original Score.
‘…a movie of infinite tenderness, that rare ode to motherhood that acknowledges mothers as women first and mothers second’ – Time
&
I’m So Excited!
THU 26 SEP | 7PM | Arc Cinema |$16/$12
2012 | MA15+ | 90 mins | DCP | ESP | D: Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish – English subtitles
Three camp and slightly bitter air stewards take their passengers, and the audience, on a wild flight to Mexico City in this colourful Spanish comedy set on an airplane. Drugs, alcohol and sexual licence abound amidst the turbulence and mishaps of the journey as both passengers and crew discover a lot more about themselves, and each other, than they previously knew.
Farcical and larger-than-life, I’m So Excited! overflows with director Pedro Almodóvar’s signature melodrama.
‘ In Pedro Almodóvar's ecstatic return to his signature bawdy comedy, the commonplace – a flight from Madrid to Mexico – is made outrageous, and a literally heightened atmosphere returns a group of variously suspended characters to the world’ – SBS
Terms and Conditions
Pass is not transferable and is valid for one entry per session. All sessions must be pre-booked. Passes are not valid for special events. Passes can be scanned at the door for entry.