Independent Film Guide

What It's About
In Pedro Almodóvar's latest estrogen-fueled melodrama, Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) lives in Madrid with her layabout husband (Antonio de la Torre) and teenage daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo). One night Paula stabs her father in self defense, forcing Raimunda to creatively cover up the murder. Meanwhile, her sister (Lola Dueñas) reunites with their thought-to-be-long-dead mother (Carmen Maura), who appears to her after a visit to their hometown in La Mancha.

Why You Should See It We'd encourage you to see any Almodóvar film, but 'Volver,' which means "to return," is indeed a special homecoming of sorts for the acclaimed Spanish director. Not only is it a tribute to his Manchegan roots, but it's his return to directing a primarily femme cast ('Bad Education' and 'Talk to Her' focused on men), and it marks the pairing of his first acting muse, Maura, with his latest one, Cruz. And Cruz, better known to American moviegoers for her beauty than her talent, proves that in her native language she's a fiery, forceful performer.

Production Note Cruz may be known for her naturally spectacular body, but there's one part that was definitely enhanced for the film: her bootylicious rump. She and Almodóvar decided that a prosthetic derriere was necessary to make Raimunda's voluptuous character look more like a 30-something mamá.

Oscar Alert At this year's Cannes Film Festival, Cruz shared a Best Actress award with the rest of the film's female cast, but come Oscar time, she's likely to receive individual attention for her award-worthy performance. If she is nominated, Cruz will be the first Spanish actress to ever earn a nod.

Auteur Testimonial "'Volver' is a tribute to the social rites practiced by the people of my village with regard to death and the dead," Almodóvar says in the film's press notes. "I have always admired and envied the naturalness with which my neighbors talk of the dead, cultivate their memory and tend their graves constantly. Like the character of Agustina in the film, many of them look after their own grave for years, while they are alive."

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