The director of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is Pedro Almodóvar, a Spanish award-winning director. In one interview, Pedro stated that his films often reflect his own life in some way. He was inspired to write this film after watching The Human Voice, a play written by Jean Cocteau, about a woman who had recently experienced the break up of a serious relationship. Pedro wanted to take this theme of abandonment and explore it within his film.
In this film, Pedro captures the uncertainty of a breakup, an event that leaves people on the verge of a breakdown, according to the director. He argues that through a break up a person can really find themselves and strengthen their character, as Pepa does in the film.
Overall, Pedro's main intention was to take this painful life event and explore it through the lens of comedy. Not only responsible for the film's light-hearted tone, Pedro was also responsible for the film's iconic splash of color and vibrant set design.
