As part of our monthly Foreign Films programme on Monday the 14th of December many of us attended one of the most enjoyable foreign Films yet “Parallel Mothers.” The Film opened with photographer, Janis (Penélope Cruz), taking pictures of a gentleman named Arturo. Afterward, over a bottle of wine, they talk, ending up in a night of passion in her bed.  Moving on Janis, in a maternity hospital, preparing to have his child.

It is at the hospital (Milena Smit), also heavily pregnant, enters the scene. She and Janis are in the same ward; and discover they have a lot in common. Janis named after Janis Joplin is approaching forty Ana is less than half Janis’s age. Janis gives birth to Cecilia, and Ana to Anita. The babies, though safely delivered, are placed under observation before being returned to their mothers.

In the hospital, Ana is visited by her mother, Teresa, an actress by profession. Having been offered the lead in a play she goes on tour; at a time, her daughter needs her most.

Artouro refuses to accept he is the father stating the child bears no resemblance prompting Janis to take a paternity test and you can guess the rest.

After a chance meeting and having discovered Ana’s Anita had suffered cot death.  Janis subsequently employees Ana as a nanny.

Earlier in the film talking to Arturo, who is a forensic anthropologist, she asks about the possibility of excavating the grave of her great-grandfather, who was killed during the rule of General Franco.

Janis wants to know the truth about her child, and having acquired that truth, she hastens to keep the truth to herself, until conscience impels her to bring the facts to light and come clean to Ana.

A well scripted and acted film keeps you enthralled.

Ana has a child’s innocence, and she may not be the cleverest, yet her awareness of right and wrong is instinctive. “Parallel Mothers” is a beautifully forgiving and memorable film. At the end of the film, we see the people of Janis home village, inspecting the now open grave. The move concludes with Cecilia, now a little girl, at a graveside, looking down at the dead. 

Our next foreign film is Who do you think I am staring Juliette Binoche at the Picturedrome, 8pm Monday 12^th December and promises to be an equally enthralling film.

Our foreign Films take place on the 2^nd Monday of each month and are highly recommended