Volver

Pedro Almodovar writes some most original scripts in world cinema today, and his most recent movie Volver reunites him with Hollywood’s most famous Spanish import Penelope Cruz.

Each of Almodovar’s films has very different stories, yet they all share some similar traits. There are always death, friendship, secrets and humor soaked in bright colors. Usually Almodovar’s plots teeter on the border line of being over-the-top. However, his scripts are so creative and unique that you overlook some craziness in his movies. Volver is no exception.

In Volver, Raimunda struggles in her daily life, but mainly in her relationships with her mother, sister, daughter and friends. Watching Almodovar’s movies, one can guess that he must be a movie aficionado. He is heavily influenced by filmmakers of the past. In Volver alone, one can see the shadows of Hitchcock, Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, and above all, all those Italian neorealist masters. Almodovar’s script flows freely and dabbles in genres from thriller to ghost story to drama to comedy. It is hard to pin this movie in any specific mold; in fact, the only thing I can say for sure about this movie is that it is an unabashedly “chick” movie. The few male characters all quickly disappear minutes after they show up on screen. It is probably for the better. Almodovar is an actress’ writer/director. He has precise insights into female relationships and all actresses shine in his movie.

Cruz got an Oscar nomination for her role of Raimunda, but I think Cannes Film Festival got it right by handing the entire cast a Best Actress Award. Cruz may be the most glamorous one among the cast, but she definitely doesn’t rise above them. Almodovar clearly tries to recreate the earth mother image that has been a symbol of female characters in Italian neorealist movies. All the women in Volver are nurturing, loving, forgiving and loyal. Image wise, Cruz is more closely related to Sophia Loren in Vittorio De Sica’s Two Women than Anna Magnani in Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City. However, at the end of the movie, Almodovar openly pays tribute to Magnani and Italian neorealism by having Raimunda’s mother watch Magnani in Bellissima. Like Magnani’s character in Bellissima, Raimunda’s mom also dreamed of making Raimunda a child actress. Cruz seems to be much at ease when she is speaking her native tongue. She should concentrate on making Spanish movies. Actually she gained international fame through Almodovar movies and attracted all the attention from Hollywood. She was mostly wasted in Hollywood movies and now once again Almodovar revived her career and pushed her into international limelight.

I have watched every single Almodovar movie since his Oscar winner All About My Mother. He writes about tragedies in life without any sentimentality and his characters, especially those female ones, always go through life with toughness and a sense of humor. My favorite Almodovar movie is still Talk to Her maybe because in that movie he created equally strong male and female characters. It is an ultimate love story for all romantics. Volver, in my opinion, does not measure up to Talk to Her, but still I would love to hang out with Raimunda and her friends any time. Those ladies remind me of an American oldie:

“Well I’ve never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don’t abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can’t refuse it”