Originally titled “Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios”, the movie is based on a French play called “La Voix humaine” from the 1930. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is a Spanish dark comedy movie released in 1988.
The movie follows Pepa, a voice actress who just got news from her boyfriend Ivan that he wants to break up with her. Ivan is also a voice actor and the movie begins showing him dubbing over various dialogues which are actually in correspondence with his chauvinistic character. In the midst of coping with the breakup, Pepa receives disturbing messages from her friend Candela who reveals to have been in a relationship with an Arab who is also a terrorist, so she is scared for her life. The movie introduces other characters, Ivan’s son Carlos, and Ivan’s mentally ill ex-wife Lucia.
The movie culminates in Lucia trying to kill Ivan at the airport, and Pepa saving him. At the end, Pepa refuses to reconcile with Ivan, despite the fact that she is pregnant. The movie is vibrant in its visual aspect as well as the plot, which walks to the line of absurd and surrealism. It was well-received upon its release, even being nominated for the Academy Award in 1988.
