Volver
by Pedro Almodóvar
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Blanca Portillo, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Penélope Cruz, Yohana CoboDirector: Pedro Almodóvar
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: José Luis Alcaine
Writer: Pedro Almodóvar
Editor: José Salcedo
Producer: Agustín Almodóvar
Producer: Esther García
Producer: Toni Novella
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.35:1
Running Time: 121 minutes
Published: 2007-04-01
DVD Release Date: 2007-04-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Product features:
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- AC-3; Closed-captioned; Color; Dolby; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC
Movie Reviews of Volver
Movie Review: How To Write and Direct with Class
Summary: 5 Stars
This is Pedro Almodovar's latest and possibly greatest screen achievement, but only if you are a fan of Mr. Almodovar. Any user review, of course, will reflect the opinion and taste of the writer, but of the half dozen DVDs of successful and highly praised films I've acquired and watched in the past few weeks, I have enjoyed Volver far above any other.
Mr. Almodovar has been redefining the term "Woman's Picture" for the past decade or so. For some reason (possibly because he's an out gay man, who is not afraid of his feminine side) Mr. Almodovar excels at making films that seem to especially resonate with women and gay men, sort of like a modern Cukor. I have noticed however that many heterosexual men are unable to warm to his style. As far as I am concerned, that's their loss.
Almodovar's deft, quick directing skills have never been used to better effect than they are here. Although a little over two hours in running time, the popular director (who also wrote the screenplay) divulges information in each scene effectively and wisely, so that nary a moment of screen time is wasted on unnecessary detail or confusing extra narrative. Much like the better films of Alfred Hitchcock, Mr. Almodovar rarely introduces data into his storyline without a purpose.
Volver (which in Spanish is a verb meaning, "To come back") concerns a group of women in the La Mancha region of Spain, all of whom are close relatives, friends or neighbors. Although many reviewers have classified Volver as soap opera, and many more as totally unbelievable, I had little problem imagining most of what is depicted in the story as absolutely possible; in fact, I found the script to be utterly rich in irony, drama and realism. Although classified as a "comedy", it is only funny in passing moments, and I enjoyed it far more for its genuinely moving drama than its laughs. The plot turns were frequent and always kept me wondering what would happen next. The ending was highly satisfactory, and I always marvel at Almodovar's ability to balance sentimentality with credibility, without coming off as maudlin or manipulative in the slightest.
As for the actual plot, I would like to give anyone who hasn't seen it a chance to discover for themselves the wonderful surprises Mr. Almodovar sets up in almost every scene. Suffice it to say that Volver concerns the resolution of secrets from beyond the grave, but does not contain more than a hint of the supernatural. Indeed, Mr. Almodovar's characters are completely of this earth, and very much concerned with real life, with its amusing or tragic twists and turns. Its themes explore motherly love, revenge and forgiveness with a highly developed sense of irony, deftly layering one plot turn on top of another until it all gels in a perfectly seamless climax. When it was over, I once again marveled at the director's ability to condense such a complicated story into what seemed like a fairly short film, while managing to keep the complex characters and subplots simple and crystal clear. Too often when a screenwriter or director tries for a "feel good" conclusion it ends up as cheap or schmaltzy, but there is not a false note about the admittedly sentimental ending. I would be remiss if I did not mention that virtually every member of the cast gives a solid, believable performance, not only Penélope Cruz, who has gotten so much attention (and deservedly so), as the rest of the cast is also outstanding. If you liked Almodovar's earlier films, you are sure to love this one. If you have avoided him up to now, I can't think of a better place to start.
Summary of Volver
VOLVER - DVD MovieSpanish for "Coming Back," Volver is a return to the all-female format of All About My Mother. Unlike Pedro Almodóvar's previous two pictures, the story revolves around a group of women in Madrid and his native La Mancha. (The cast received a collective best actress award at Cannes.) Raimunda (a zaftig Penélope Cruz) is the engine powering this heartfelt, yet humorous vehicle. When husband Paco (Antonio de la Torre) is murdered, Raimunda makes like Mildred Pierce to deflect attention away from daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo). After telling everyone the lout has left, she struggles to conceal his body. The other women in her life all have secrets of their own. Her sister, Sole (Lola Dueñas), for instance, has taken in their mother, Irene (a sprightly Carmen Maura). Since Irene perished in a fire, is this person a ghost or simply a woman who looks like her? Then there's their childhood friend, Agustina (Blanca Portillo), who is desperate to find out why her mother disappeared after the blaze. Was she responsible? Almodóvar deftly blends the ghost story with the murder mystery in his tribute to the Italian neo-realist films of the 1950s. The resilient Raimunda is a throwback to the earthy heroines of Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani. The latter appears in Luchino Visconti's Bellissima, which shows up on Sole's television one night (thus confirming the link). If Almodóvar?s 16th feature lacks the emotional punch of the more audacious Talk to Her, it's less heavy-handed than Bad Education and Cruz is a revelation. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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