This is the story of a mother (Roth) who undertakes a pilgrimage to Barcelona, revisting the places of her past. She is soon the center of a circle of women including a wayward nun (Cruz), an old transvestite friend (San Juan), and a famous actress (Paredes).

Review: Don’t you just hate those reviews that, like movie trailers, give away the entire plot, subplot and central theme of a film? I do! I’ll try to avoid that.

This Spanish film won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Film in 2000. Granted, I haven’t seen the films it was up against, but I have seen a few of the English Best Picture nominees and All About My Mother is certainly up to their calibre.

This movie submerges us into lives that we often just glance over - those of transsexuals, transvestites and their families. It raises questions that middle-class America rarely ponders and does it all without melodrama. I was transported, entertained and enlightened by this film.

For a movie that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre and even provide a little dinner conversation, see All About My Mother. Reviewed by P.J. Angus