Watching Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother (Todo Sobre Mi Madre) in our Film 100 class was totally fun and tear-jerking.

It's about a grieving mother, Manuela (Cecilia Roth), who is in search for her dead son's transvestite father. I'm not in the mood for writing, so pardon the bluntness. But trust me, the story isn't as simple as it sounds.

There's wonderful narrative here, coupled with openminded treatment of reality. And by "reality" I mean the whoring "industry", transexuals, and HIV/AIDS.

One particular poignant part here is the death of Manuela's son, Esteban, early in the movie. He was a wannabe writer and was currently writing all about his mother. Mother and son were so close with each other. The fateful day came during his 17th birthday. Chasing the speeding car of the lead actress of the play he and his mother had just watched (wanting to get an autograph), another car ran him down and killed him. Manuela's shock and grief oozed out of the screen and into our hearts (or at least, mine).

In Barcelona where she soon goes, Manuela finds herself amid old and newfound friends. One of them is Agrado (Antonia San Juan), a talkative transexual and the most hilarious element in the film. "Element" because whenever she enters the scene, everything suddenly dons a comedic atmosphere, yet something that is commentaristic or satirical. Agrado's monologue is arguably the best part of the film; she chronicles the almost countless surgeries that she had had to become an "authentic" woman.

And then there's the meek and oh-so-virgin-looking Penelope Cruz who takes the role of Rosa, a nun ready to leave for El Salvador to do missionary work. Damn, she's so beatiful; she's just so stupid she made-patol and thus got impreganated by Lola, the very same transvestite that impregnated Manuela 18 years ago. Worse-worse-worse, she got infected with HIV.

There's a lot to see and learn from this movie. A commenter in IMDb considers this film a "homage to women of all kinds." Perhaps. But what I'm sure is that this is a great movie where we not only see the weird and taboo in the most humane way as possible, but where we also celebrate love, resiliency, and friendship.

IT'S AN A!