Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) poster & wallpaper
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Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Fernando Guillén Cuervo, Julieta Serrano, María Barranco ... see more see more... , Rossy de Palma , Kiti Manver , Chus Lampreave , Yayo Calvo , Loles Leon , Ángel de Andrés López , Agustin Almodovar , Lupe Barrado , José Marco , Imanol Uribe , Guillermo Montesinos , Gabriel Latorre

Though the kinky characters and aberrant social behavior common to the works of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar are very evident in his Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the film is at heart... read more read more... a door-slamming farce in the grand tradition. The tiny apartment of pregnant actress Carmen Maura is the "Grand Central Station" setpiece for this dizzying tale. Distraught over her recent breakup with her lover, Carmen prepares to overdose on sleeping pills, which she blends into a gazpacho so they'll go down easier. She is diverted from her suicide by her best friend Maria Barranco, a fugitive from justice (her boy friend is a Shi'Ite terrorist) who needs a place to stay. Later, when Carmen's apartment is empty, her ex-lover's grown son (Antonio Banderas) comes to the apartment with his fiance (Rossy de Palma) in answer to Carmen's "room to let" newspaper ad. The wife inadvertently ingests Carmen's "pill sauce," and as she blissfully snoozes, the husband inaugurates an affair with Carmen's friend Barranco. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

88% liked it

21,521 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

27 critics

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar

Release Date: March 23, 1988

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DVD Release Date: April 10, 2001

Stats: 1,019 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,019)

  • axadntpron
    April 11, 2012
    axadntpron
    A bizarre black comedy that sometimes wanders into screwball territory. It is a tale about a group of women all suffering in their way. Being the first outright comedy I have seen from Almodovar, I had a hard time allowing myself to laugh and spent the first half of the film sole... read morey trying to analyze the color schemes & feminist themes. It wasn't until about half way through that I realized that while analysis is important, Almodovar wants us to have fun as well. Once I took my critic hat off, I found myself having a good time.The acting, while incredibly zany, is really good and the script is absurdly funny.
    I'll need to see it again to really appreciate it's offbeat nature, but until then I had a good time with these funny albeit forlorn women.
  • danperry17
    November 27, 2011
    danperry17
    A very funny sex comedy that unfolds like a farce, in which every character's life intersects with the others', whether they know so or not. Charming film deserving of its Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award nomination in 1989, and a great introduction to Almodovar, who has ... read morebecome one of the seminal directors of our time.
  • SirPant
    October 25, 2011
    SirPant
    Women on the verge of a mental breakdown is an absurd and farcical comedy of errors done in a way that only Pedro Almodóvar could do. Yet again, this is another celebration of womanhood with a brilliant cast of actresses familiar in Almodóvar's films. Carmen Maura is brilliant at... read more displaying strength and weaknesses in her character, she really is the glue in this topsy turvey comedy but is very strongly supported by the cast. I loved the whole film but the last 15 minutes are dynamite. This is the first film that Almodóvar shied away from the usual trash but lost none of the comedy. For me is definitely up there with his best.
  • jennifxu
    May 2, 2011
    jennifxu
    While I liked the way all the events eventually congealed together, I don't really like Almodovar movies. They all seem inherently cold to me, like I never really get to know the characters inside of them. I'm like a spectator that only sees the surface details.
  • blacksheepboy
    May 10, 2010
    blacksheepboy
    An utterly hilarious farce by Pedro Almodóvar, with over-coloured kitsch visuals and a hysterical story full of peculiar characters facing absurd situations - and check out the extravagant taxi and the numerous times someone throws an object out of the window!
  • flixsterman
    November 27, 2009
    flixsterman
    Fantastic Almodóvar-esque romp through a complex love triangle (evolving into a love tetrahedron). Hysterical!
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    I liked the style, but the movie itself was just way too cliche for me. The comedy was over exaggerated. The directing was great and meticulous, I just felt it was a waste of talent.The acting was so-so, Carmen Maura was really good, but Antonio Banderas was a little dull as usua... read morel. I'm just not a big fan of this kind of movie, so It's hard to judge it properly. For what it was, it was good.
  • 76Majikat
    March 28, 2009
    76Majikat
    Not the most welcoming of titles and the first half of the film is pretty much as you?d expect from the title, a little depressing and wondering where it?s all heading. It?s certainly not a film that builds up into a big climax, but the second half does get a little better, woul... read moredn?t necessarily recommend it though and it?s certainly not one of Almodovar?s best.
  • fernandorafael
    May 15, 2008
    fernandorafael
    Colorful and dark at the same time, MUJERES AL BORDE DE UN ATAQUE DE NERVIOS is a fantastic comedy, with exceptional writing and directing from the genius PEDRO ALMODOVAR. It's pretty funny, with excellent cinematography and a good soundtrack. Carmen Maura is amazing as Pepa; Ant... read moreonio Banderas made me stop hating him while María Barranco and Julieta Serrano also gave good performances. Loles León and Chus Lampreave: HILARIOUS.
  • RCCLBC
    March 14, 2008
    RCCLBC
    Love Spanish Style!
    Quirky, Funny, Sad. Everything you'd expect in an Almadovar film.
    Carmen Maura never fails to amaze me.

View All Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington
August 31, 2006
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

A feminist comedy with real bite; it always brings down the house. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

In Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Mr. Almodovar sets out to charm rather than shock. That he succeeds should not come as a surprise. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

This is painless sexual politics, a fiendish comedy full of prickles and pain and the bright shiny pinks of a matador's cape. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Women slinks devilishly (and expertly) between farce, absurdism and tragedy. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 30, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Almodovar's most accomplished and most commercially successful comedy to date. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
June 14, 2007
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

The film's color scheme is like a makeup counter display, and the narrative has the same sort of spirit, with dabs of humor that gloss over or disrupt the heroine's grief.

Rob Thomas
July 21, 2005
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

The gold standard for Almodovar's screwball farces.

Nick Schager
May 4, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

An exuberant comedy of manners drunk on its own outlandish melodrama. Full Review

October 1, 2003
Austin Chronicle

The movie is a great introduction to Almodóvar's world... Full Review

July 30, 2003
TV Guide's Movie Guide

An incisive, fast-paced romp with the serious theme of obsessive love. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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