On this day March 25 1988 Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was released in Spain. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar the dark comedy starred Carmen Maura and a young Antonio Banderas. The film followed a voice actress whose life unravels over the course of a chaotic day filled with lies betrayals and absurd twists.
With its vibrant visuals quick pacing and emotional depth the film became a breakout international hit for Almodóvar. It earned $7.2 million at the box office on a $1.1 million budget and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards helping bring Spanish cinema to a wider global audience.
80s insight: This was Antonio Banderas’s second collaboration with Pedro Almodóvar and the film played a major role in launching his international career.