Volver (2006)
Volver (2006) is a Spanish comedy-drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, and Chus Lampreave. The film revolves around an eccentric family of women from a wind-swept region south of Madrid, who deal with themes like sexual abuse, loneliness, death, and the return of their dead mother. The film was praised for its performances, screenplay, direction, and cinematography, and won several awards, including two at the Cannes Film Festival and an Oscar nomination for Cruz.
I never thought I’d say this, but Pedro Almodovar’s becoming a bit of a bore. Young Pedro would have made an absurdist-melodramatic volcano out of this material, and given it more emotional weight in the process than this weirdly self-serious, but rambling and static work.
After promising at several junctures to soar, only Penelope Cruz (excellent, yes) shows fire, whether in Tony Perkins clean-up-the-murder mode, or singing flamenco. Occasional spurts of whimsy and collective joy – an Almodovar hallmark – merely show up the clumsy story, and the lack of real dramatic meat and younger Pedro’s earthy camp. A crushing disappointment.
Volver (2006) Reviews:
Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars, calling it “enchanting, gentle, transgressive” and praising Almodóvar’s love for his female characters. He also compared the film to the works of Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, and Pier Paolo Pasolini.
Common Sense Media rated the film four out of five stars, describing it as “a complex, engaging, and touching portrait of a family of women”. The review also highlighted the themes of resilience, forgiveness, and loyalty in the film.
BBC gave the film three out of five stars, criticizing the plot implausibilities and uneven characterisation, but acknowledging the film’s “visual flair” and “warmth”. The review also noted the influence of classic noir and kitchen-sink whimsy on the film.
Cast and Crew:
- Penélope Cruz as Raimunda, a working-class woman who has to protect her daughter Paula from her abusive husband Paco, and who reopens a restaurant after hiding Paco’s corpse in the freezer.
- Carmen Maura as Irene, Raimunda and Sole’s mother, who died in a fire three years ago, but returns as a ghost to help her daughters and reveal some secrets from the past.
- Lola Dueñas as Sole, Raimunda’s sister, who runs a hair salon and takes care of Irene’s ghost, pretending she is a Russian helper.
- Blanca Portillo as Agustina, Raimunda and Sole’s childhood friend, who suffers from terminal cancer and wants to know the truth about her mother’s disappearance.
- Yohana Cobo as Paula, Raimunda’s 14-year-old daughter, who kills Paco in self-defense and bonds with her grandmother Irene.
- Chus Lampreave as Aunt Paula, Irene’s sister, who is senile and lives with Irene’s ghost in the village.
- Pedro Almodóvar as the writer and director of the film, who drew inspiration from his own upbringing in La Mancha and his admiration for women.
- Alberto Iglesias as the composer of the film’s original score, which blends traditional and modern elements and reflects the film’s mood and tone.
- José Luis Alcaine as the cinematographer of the film, who used warm colors and natural light to create a vivid and realistic look for the film.
Film Summary:
The film begins with Raimunda and Sole visiting their parents’ graves in their hometown of Alcanfor de las Infantas, a small village in La Mancha. They also visit their aunt Paula, who is growing senile and claims that their mother Irene is still alive and taking care of her. Raimunda and Sole dismiss this as a delusion, but they are intrigued by the presence of a mysterious woman in the village who resembles Irene.
Back in Madrid, Raimunda and her daughter Paula live with Paula’s father Paco, who is unemployed and unfaithful. One day, Paco attempts to rap$ Paula, claiming that he is not really her father, and Paula stabs him to death in self-defense. Raimunda comes home and finds the corpse, and decides to hide it in the freezer of a nearby restaurant that belongs to Emilio, a friend of hers who is away. She then lies to Sole and tells her that Paco has left her for another woman.
Meanwhile, Sole receives a phone call from the village, informing her that aunt Paula has died. She goes to the funeral, and discovers that Irene’s ghost has followed her to Madrid, hiding in the trunk of her car. Sole agrees to let Irene stay with her, but she has to pretend that she is a Russian helper to avoid suspicion. Irene explains that she did not die in the fire, but escaped with the help of her lover, who turned out to be Agustina’s father.
She also reveals that Paco was indeed Paula’s father, and that he had rap@d Raimunda when she was a teenager, resulting in Paula’s birth. Irene says that she wants to make amends with Raimunda and Paula, but Sole advises her to wait until the right moment.
Raimunda, meanwhile, has to deal with the consequences of Paco’s death. She is visited by a film crew that is working nearby, and they ask her to cater for them, since the restaurant is closed. Raimunda agrees, and finds herself back in the restaurant business, earning money and recognition. She also befriends Agustina, who lives next door and who is suffering from terminal cancer.
Agustina tells Raimunda that she knows about Paco’s murder, but she does not report it to the police, because she wants to know the truth about her mother’s disappearance. She also asks Raimunda to take care of her when she dies, and to look for her mother’s body in the freezer of the restaurant.
One day, Raimunda receives a visit from Emilio, who has returned and wants to sell the restaurant. Raimunda convinces him to let her keep it, and she signs a contract with him. She then moves Paco’s corpse to the backyard of the restaurant, and burns it in a bonfire.
She also confesses to Paula the truth about her father, and Paula accepts it. Raimunda then decides to visit Sole and Irene, and she finally reconciles with her mother, forgiving her for her past mistakes. Irene also meets Paula, and they embrace each other.
The film ends with the four women (Raimunda, Sole, Irene, and Paula) driving back to the village, where they plan to live together and take care of Agustina
IMDb page for the full cast and crew, trivia, and user reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes page for the critic reviews and audience ratings.
Official trailer for a glimpse of the film’s plot and style.
The Movie Database page for the poster, ratings, and social reviews.
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