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Review

Dearest Mother expertly blends humor, intense homoeroticism and heart-wrenching melodrama within an engrossing, episodic structure. Director Pilar Távora’s tearjerker studies one loveable character’s unwavering devotion to his mother and the way in which their relationship influences his encounters with other men. We are introduced to Alfredito — an older, proudly gay Catholic – as he dresses and confesses to a statue of the Virgin Mary. As Alfredito relays memories, we are treated to visual glimpses of his past: his conception, his birth, altercations with his abusive father, his strict religious upbringing, his time spent cleaning toilets in Franco’s Army, and, of course, his first sexual experience with an exquisitely handsome school buddy named Javi. Most important to him, though, are the fond recollections of moments spent with his beloved mother. Sadly, as confident and self-aware as Alfredito may be, he has not come to accept that his mom will not be around forever. Featuring excellent performances from numerous actors playing the same characters at different stages of their lives, Dearest Mother is a deeply emotional, neatly-woven journey that smartly observes family ties and what it’s like to grow up gay in Spain. (Spanish with English subtitles)

 -- Robert O'Neill