Essay Questions

Why does Pepa refuse to take back Ivan?

At the end of the film, Ivan admits that he had made a mistake in breaking up with Pepa, and asks to reconcile. Pepa rejects his proposition, despite the fact she is pregnant and says that "there was still time last night, this morning, even today at noon. But now it's too late." Through the film, we see that Pepa has endured a lot of stress, and decided it would be better if Ivan wasn't in her life.

What play is this film inspired by?

This film is inspired by a French play called The Human Voice, written by Jean Cocteau. The play was first staged in 1930 and tells the story of a Parisian lady who is on the phone with her partner. They have been together for five years, but he has decided to leave her and marry somebody else. We can see hints of this in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, as Pepa finds herself in a similar situation.

How is the idea of abandonment presented in the film?

Abandonment is a key theme of the film and is experienced by Pepa when Ivan leaves her. Director Pedro Almodóvar wanted to capture this intense feeling of abandonment, especially after the breakup of a serious relationship. Although he emphasizes the misery that can come from this kind of abandonment, he also suggests it can lead to personal growth and development.