Pedro Alamadóvar’s
“All About My Mother,” contrasts
ideas of what is good and what is not. Throughout the film, there are
characters who do not fit the mold of their profession or their past. Agrado is
a perfect example. Agrado makes a living through prostitution, has had many
plastic surgeries, and uses vile language – none of which are things that
society would celebrate. However, “All About My Mother” gives an up close view
of Agrado, shows that she is in fact a genuine, person of high character, which
contrasts the stereotype of her lifestyle, and exemplifies the theme that
authenticity does not rely on social norms.
Throughout
the film, it is evident that Agrado is a genuine person how she cares about
others. Agrado is robbed of all her valuables when she takes in Lola off the
streets and lets Lola stay with her. When Manuela performs the role of Stella
in the play, Agrado brings over ice cream to celebrate. When Nina is shooting
up in the bathroom, Agrado tries to tell her of her best interests. When
Manuela returns with the news of Rosa’s son, Esteban’s health, Agrado tells her
how much she prayed for him. Through her authentic compassion for others,
Agrado defies the stereotype of a selfish prostitute, but she also demonstrates
her authenticity through her speech at the theater.
Agrado’s big
moment in the film happens when the show is to be cancelled because Fuma and
Nina are both in the hospital. Knowing that the audience came for a show, Agrado
goes on stage so that they will have something to take away from the experience.
She talks about all her cosmetic surgeries and concludes by saying, “It costs a
lot to be authentic ma’am, and one can’t be stingy with these things… because
you are more authentic the more you resemble what you’ve dreamed of being.”
Agrado is authentic in that she has dreamed of being beautiful, and of making
money, and has taken charge of her life to do just that, which shows
Alamadóvar’s theme of Authenticity does not rely on conventional norms.
Something I thought was interesting was the contrast drawn between Agrado and Rosa. Rosa is a nun and Agrado is a prostitute, yet Rosa gets pregnant by Lola and is infected by HIV; while, Agrado generally stays out of trouble. This speaks to the idea of blending social roles and
ReplyDeletehow someone's role in society does not determine what kind of person they are.
From a more literal perspective in regard to the many sexually complicated characters in the film, gender association is more relative to the projections of the character while the physical gender is sometimes unclear. Agrado describes her multiple plastic surgeries to achieve this authenticity but reserves the full transition because of her prostitution. Yet the character is by every identifiable characteristic completely female from her mode of speaking to her physical presentation, and manner by which she carries herself.
ReplyDeleteAuthenticity is also known as realness. The film plays with the notion of what is truly real and what only appears real. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to determine what is real for them. Through her efforts, Agrado makes her own dreams come true for herself, which is one of the main themes of the movie -- there is no absolute standard, but only the subjective one possessed by the viewer.
ReplyDeleteAnker I think that you have definitely hit upon a theme that runs throughout the movie that authenticity does not rely on conventional norms. Another character this could apply to is Manuela and her relationship with her son Esteban. Manuela is not the classic version of a mom. She had a relationship with a man who physically became a woman. Then when she became pregnant, without even telling him she left. She left him to live on her own and to raise her son. This is not the norm that we are used to. But just because of this, it does not make Manuela any less of a legitimate mother. She is authentic in her love for her son and the wonderful care she gives him. This is just another example in which the theme of authenticity not relying on social norm plays out through the film.
ReplyDeleteAnker does a great job analyzing the theme of defying the social norms in the film All About My Mother. Agrado's character grows into this caring and thoughtful being despite the fact that Agrado's status in society of a prostitute as someone disgusting and possibly selfish. I think that as a part of Agrado's transformation out of prostitution, her inner character of kindness becomes drawn out. As she takes care of Huma, Agrado reveals her good character. Even though Agrado was a prostitute before, this stereotype did not define Agrado then nor does it now.
ReplyDeleteMarlee makes an excellent comment upon the character of Manuela. Manuel has a relationship with Lola as husband and wife that was described until Lola decided to change himself physically into a woman. Even though Lola decided to become a woman, he still claimed to have always wanted to have been a father. Unlike the idea of becoming a woman physically to avoiding possible male roles, he still desired to be a father and was very happy to know he had a son and also another. This is also outside of the social norms like many of the other characters.