Pedro Almodóvar consistently has something important to express, and “Parallel Mothers” might be his most sweeping attempt yet. It’s a movie that functions on several levels at once: a story about motherhood interwoven with a love triangle, all while delivering a political message so pressing it extends far beyond Spain's borders. The narrative concerning mothers and babies isn't simply melodrama; it serves as a d…

Parallel Mothers feels like writer/director Pedro Almodóvar might be running out of ideas. It’s too reminiscent of his inconsistent film Julieta, which came out only six years ago, and it's difficult to invest in – though there’s no real reason we should take it seriously; the switched-at-birth plot is standard soap opera fare, and would have worked well enough as part of a comedy, something he’s done before. But her…

The film Parallel Mothers presents a surprising and unsettling story centered on motherhood, highlighted by outstanding portrayals from Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit. While there are stretches with predictable melodrama and some unremarkable aspects of the filmmaking, Pedro Almodóvar delivers an engaging, authentic, and deeply moving narrative that focuses on mothers who aren’t perfect. The film is consistentl…