“She’s really cool, that Penelope Cruz” – QX

It’s really cool, that one Penelope Cruz. And after Parallel mothers And Pain and glory “Cruise as elegant, vulnerable mother” is starting to become a genre of its own. Filmmakers with a passion for family dramas in southern Europe: look here!

Now she has been loaned to Italy to play the role of a liberal mother of three children in the atmosphere of the seventies. Nice role, but almost overshadowed by the young debutante Luana Giuliani. The film takes the point of view of 12-year-old Adriana, and depicts how the family’s eldest daughter begins to wonder if she is a boy. This happened at a time when “queer” and “your gift” were still foreign concepts.

The director, who is transgender himself, draws a lot of inspiration from his childhood. I wish his film had more to say, or touched more. But it’s a cozy world to step into, where the colorful environments and musical elements provide a fun setting for a sympathetic coming-of-age story.

My wonderful mother

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direction: Emmanuel Crialis
In roles: Penelope Cruz, Luana Giuliani, and Vincenzo Amato

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