For distinctive Spanish writer-director Pedro Almodovar, it’sanother of his colorful, modern, comedy-tinged dramas about women on the verge. But this time the senoritas of “Volver” aren’t so much verging on nervous breakdowns as they are on the brink of getting away with murder, encountering old ghosts and finding independence and reconciliation.
Almodovar muse Penelope Cruz stars and proves again how much more able she is as the main attraction in her native Spanish tongue in quirky little films than she is as a Hollywood love interest — both on screen and off — opposite the likes of Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey. Her reported personal relationships with those guys were much more interesting to follow than her weak English language cinematic extravaganzas with them.
But in “Volver,” the luscious-lipped Latina sparkles with physical charisma and gets the outsize emotion right as Raimunda. Born and raised in a weird little village where strong east winds and rampant wild fires apparently breeds madness and passion, the hard-working housewife comes home one day to find her wayward husband dead. She has already been dealing with the death four years earlier of her estranged mother Irene (the great Carmen Maura). Now she must soothe her own teenage daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo), who was cornered into stabbing her stepfather to death when he tried to rape her. As bad as that sounds, a black comic farce ensues as the momma lion attempts to cover up the deed and protect her cub Paula while starting her own small restaurant business to support her.
Story surprises abound as echoes of the past seem to be materializing in the present. Not only are some events practically repeating themselves as they did a generation before, but Irene seems to have returned from the dead and has begun appearing to Raimunda’s funny sister Sole (Lola Duenas).
As usual in Almodovar’s films, the men are no prize. Sisters — along with mothers, daughters, and female friends — are doing it for themselves. As the women gradually come together for each other, they find peace, strength, and prosperity.
As is also typical for the Almodovar oeuvre, “Volver” is a character-driven and utterly original piece of filmmaking about lovably rogues that requires a little effort and an appetite for the absurd to fully appreciate.
‘Volver’
» Stars: Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Duenas
» Director: Pedro Almodovar
» Rated R some sexual content and language.
In Spanish with English subtitles.
