Volver by Pedro Almodovar
December 15th 2006 10:32
The title of this film is simple, ‘to return’. The 57-year-old Spaniard not only returned to the region of his upbringing, La Mancha, but returned to work with two of Spain's most reknown actresses, Carmen Maura and Penelope Cruz who he describes as both holding a special place in his heart.
Raimunda lives in Madrid with her daughter Paula and her husband Paco who's always drunk. Her sister Sole is separated and works as a hairstylist for women. Years ago, the sisters lost their parents in a fire in La Mancha their birth village. All who remains in the village is their aunt Paula that continues to speak about her sister Irene, mother of the two, as though she were still alive. When the aunt dies the situation changes and the past returns (Volver) belended in a twist of mystery and suspense.
At the Cannes Festival, Almodovar described the film as being, "definitely a coming back," He continued to take out the best screenplay award and his entire female cast won the best actress prize.
Carmen Maura, is familior as his star in the 1988s vivacious Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. She shared the cinematic explosion that would allow "Almodovarian" to become part of the cinematic vernacular. Penelope Cruz bided her time with two small roles in Live Flesh and All About My Mother until she could be the lead in one of his films.
"To me, this film is coming back to the most important things from my childhood," he says. "I have come to discover that all the women I grew up with gave me my true education about life, and their stories and songs were the origin of my capacity to create.
"The film is a kind of reconciliation with my past, with my childhood and with the village where I was born. When I was a child, all I wanted was to grow up and leave, so with this film it's a coming back [to the past]."
Volver is described as being another effective testament to Almodovar's ability to blend quirkyl humour and raw drama so effectively.
Raimunda lives in Madrid with her daughter Paula and her husband Paco who's always drunk. Her sister Sole is separated and works as a hairstylist for women. Years ago, the sisters lost their parents in a fire in La Mancha their birth village. All who remains in the village is their aunt Paula that continues to speak about her sister Irene, mother of the two, as though she were still alive. When the aunt dies the situation changes and the past returns (Volver) belended in a twist of mystery and suspense.
At the Cannes Festival, Almodovar described the film as being, "definitely a coming back," He continued to take out the best screenplay award and his entire female cast won the best actress prize.
Carmen Maura, is familior as his star in the 1988s vivacious Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. She shared the cinematic explosion that would allow "Almodovarian" to become part of the cinematic vernacular. Penelope Cruz bided her time with two small roles in Live Flesh and All About My Mother until she could be the lead in one of his films.
"To me, this film is coming back to the most important things from my childhood," he says. "I have come to discover that all the women I grew up with gave me my true education about life, and their stories and songs were the origin of my capacity to create.
"The film is a kind of reconciliation with my past, with my childhood and with the village where I was born. When I was a child, all I wanted was to grow up and leave, so with this film it's a coming back [to the past]."
Volver is described as being another effective testament to Almodovar's ability to blend quirkyl humour and raw drama so effectively.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The trailer is quite good, hopefully we have another little gem on our hands.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
you are a terrible person for seeing this before I had a chance, and even more terrible for reviewing it first...
...sigh...
maybe next weekend - I'm going to see Le Valet in an hour!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comments. I haven't actually seen the film yet (what a pity), but a friend did so I spoke to them about it (and did some research). It does look good and I'm looking forward to it.
Enjoy Le Valet, Cib. I don't know much about it so I'm looking forward to hearing about it.
Tracy
Comment by Sisi
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I'm looking forward to seeing it too....
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life