Checkout Cinema 014: Chekov's Gazpacho (WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, 1988)

Thanks for listening to Checkout Cinema, a podcast where two librarians check out movies! This week we're discussing our first foreign films: Pedro Almodóvar's WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN (1988) starring Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, and Julieta Serrano.

This absurdist dark comedy follows actress Peppa (Maura), a woman determined to understand why her lover Ivan (Fernando Guillén) has abandoned her with little explanation. In her frantic search to track Ivan down before he skips town, her story twists with those around her, including her friend's terrorists troubles and Ivan's past relationships coming to light. Almodóvar brings light and color to the screen in a way that truly brings these women's bombastic personalities and stories to life, making this film a real treat to experience.

Read Elvira Lindo's essay on the film here: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4438-women-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown-a-sweet-new-style

Thanks to Darrell Winfree for editing this episode. Support your local library!