All About My Mother

All About My Mother

Year: 2021

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Chinese

Director: Tianyu Zhao

FamilyDrama

Ji Peizhen (Xu Fan) is the dedicated heart of her family, seemingly managing everything with effortless grace. Beneath the orderly facade of her home, however, lies a more complex reality. While she believes her daughter, Li Xiaomei, is exemplary, Xiaomei’s life in Beijing reveals a different side. Her husband, doctor Li Wengfan, struggles with a past mistake that prevents him from returning to his profession. Just as Ji Peizhen anticipates a peaceful retirement, she receives a devastating diagnosis: cancer, and only four months to live. The family must now grapple with how to navigate life in the face of such a profound loss.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen All About My Mother yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – All About My Mother (2021)

Explore the full timeline and setting of All About My Mother (2021). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Madrid, Barcelona, A Coruña

The story unfolds across Madrid with the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, travels to Barcelona, and returns to A Coruña for the transplant recipient. The cities frame the narrative as a web of care, secrets, and new family ties, blending hospital life, theatre, and intimate street scenes.

🏙️ Urban 🌍 Spain 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:08

Main Characters – All About My Mother (2021)

Meet the key characters of All About My Mother (2021), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Manuela

A compassionate nurse and devoted mother who makes extraordinary sacrifices after her son's death. She donates his heart to a stranger and spends the film seeking his other mother, Lola, while caring for Rosa and supporting friends in Barcelona.

🤱 Motherhood 🧭 Journey 🕊️ Sacrifice

Esteban

Manuela's teenage son, who dreams of becoming a writer. His untimely death on his 17th birthday propels the mother’s quest and sets the emotional stakes of the story.

👦 Son 🧭 Growth 💔 Loss

Lola

A transgender woman who is Esteban's other mother and a dying patient with AIDS. She embodies longing for a child and reconciliation with Manuela amid secrets from the past.

⚧️ Transgender 🧭 Identity 💔 Loss

Agrado

A warm, witty transgender sex worker who is Manuela's old friend and ally in Barcelona. She offers humor and resilience as the group navigates love, illness, and survival.

💬 Friend 🧭 Resilience 🎭 Performer

Huma Rojo

A famous actress who is a co-star and lover of Nina; her career intersects with personal drama as she becomes entangled in Manuela's mission and the lives around her.

🎭 Actress 🫂 Drama ⭐ Star-power

Nina Cruz

Huma's co-star and lover who struggles with heroin addiction, portraying vulnerability while grappling with life choices and crises in Barcelona.

🎭 Performer 💊 Drug use 🧠 Addiction

Rosa

A young HIV-positive nun who works with battered sex workers and becomes pregnant with Lola's child. Her death and Rosa's mother’s reaction heighten the film's themes of care and motherhood.

🤰 Pregnancy 💉 HIV 🕊️ Sacrifice

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:08

Major Themes – All About My Mother (2021)

Explore the central themes of All About My Mother (2021), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤱 Motherhood

Manuela’s maternal devotion drives the plot: donating her son’s heart, seeking Lola, and caring for Rosa. The film treats motherhood as a moral force that transcends genetics and social boundaries.

⚧️ Identity

Lola’s transgender identity challenges conventional roles and shapes her bond with Manuela and Esteban. The narrative explores acceptance, self-definition, and the complexities of love across different generations.

💔 Loss

Death shapes the film’s trajectory: Esteban’s fatal accident, Rosa’s AIDS-related death, and Lola’s illness. Grief becomes a shared language that binds the characters and motivates acts of care.

🤝 Friendship

Manuela's alliances with Huma, Agrado, and Nina anchor her journey and reveal loyalty, humor, and resilience in the face of hardship.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:08

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of All About My Mother

Don't stop at just watching — explore All About My Mother in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what All About My Mother is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

All About My Mother Summary

Read a complete plot summary of All About My Mother, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

All About My Mother Summary

All About My Mother Timeline

Track the full timeline of All About My Mother with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

All About My Mother Timeline

All About My Mother Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of All About My Mother that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

All About My Mother Spoiler-Free Summary

More About All About My Mother

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about All About My Mother: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About All About My Mother

Explore More About Movie All About My Mother

All About My Mother (2021) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

All About My Mother (2021) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

All About My Mother (2021) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow