Volver

Volver, directed by Pedro Almodovar

Volver is a Spanish film made in 2006, starring Penelope Cruz and having not watched many foreign films I was keen to go and see this movie at Aberystwyth students union. I had no previous idea of what this film was about and whether it would maintain my interest.

The film centres around the female protagonist Raimunada played by Penelope Cruz, it starts off establishing her lifestyle whereby she has a husband and daughter but the audience can tell that the relationship with her husband is an unhappy one. This family eventually breaks apart when the father tries to abuse the daughter who in self defence stabs her father and kills him. This leaves Raimunada to pick up the pieces and what is astonishing about this film is that even though it is in subtitles, I was excited and tensed to read them and watch the film, as I was immediately hooked. Penelope Cruz is amazing as the widower and single parent who has to keep his death from everyone and look her after her little girl whilst also maintaining her beautiful presence on screen.

There is not only this narrative but another which is a quite complex and almost thriller hybrid involving Raimunda's mother. Raimunada and her sister Sole lost their parents in a fire years ago, however Sole is revisited by her supposed dead mother unearthing family scandal and dark pasts leaving twists and turns for the audience. While family secrets are taking their toll, Penelope Cruz has got to get her life back together and in order to do this she opens a restaurant and makes a remarkable success. There is plenty of dark comedy (the fact that the dead husband is in the freezer at the back of the restaurant) coupled with dark and serious moments, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.

This is a definite must see and a brilliant edition to Spanish cinema led by the talent of the beautiful and superbly acted Penelope Cruz.