Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Local title
Naised närviataki äärel
Original title
Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios
Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Country
Year
1988

Melding melodrama with screwball farce, this Oscar-nominated black comedy was Pedro Almodóvar’s international breakthrough and secured his place at the vanguard of modern Spanish cinema.

“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” tells the story of Pepa – played by the director’s frequent collaborator Carmen Maura – who decides to kill herself with sleeping pill-laced gazpacho after her lover leaves her.

Almodóvar channelled Hollywood inspiration into his unique vision, arriving at the irreverent humour and vibrant visual sense that define his work today.

Director
Pedro Almodóvar
Screenwriter
Pedro Almodóvar
Producer
Pedro Almodóvar
Cast
Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Julieta Serrano, Rossy de Palma, María Barranco
Director of Photography
José Luis Alcaine
Editing
José Salcedo
Composer
Bernardo Bonezzi
Production
Laurenfilm, El Deseo
World sales
Newen Connect A Tf1 Group Company
Runtime
Language
Subtitles
Other festivals
Toronto, Venice
Director
Pedro Almodóvar

Pedro Almodóvar (1949)

Filmography:
valik/selected: Carne trémula (1997, Elav liha, PÖFF 1998), Todo sobre mi madre (Kõik minu emast, PÖFF 1999), Hable con ella (Räägi temaga, PÖFF 2002), La mala educación (Halb kasvatus, 2004), Volver (2006), La piel que habito (Nahk, milles ma elan, 2011), Dolor y gloria (Valu ja hiilgus, 2019), Madres paralelas (Paralleelemad, PÖFF 2021)

Matador (1986), Carne trémula (1997, Elav liha, PÖFF 1998), Todo sobre mi madre (Kõik minu emast, PÖFF 1999), Hable con ella (Räägi temaga, PÖFF 2002), La mala educación (Halb kasvatus, 2004), Volver (2006), La piel que habito (Nahk, milles ma elan, 2011), Dolor y gloria (Valu ja hiilgus, 2019), Madres paralelas (Paralleelemad, PÖFF 2021), The Room Next Door (2024)

Screenings

Screening021404 / Naised närviataki äärel
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
Trailer