Volver [DVD]

According to the director himself, "Volver is a meeting between films like "Arsenic for Compassion", by Frank Capra, with "Alma en suplicio", by Michael Curtiz, combined with the surrealist naturalism of his fourth film "What have I done to deserve this?", also starring Carmen Maura. It is about Madrid and the effervescent neighborhoods of the working class, where immigrants from the different Spanish provinces share dreams, life and fortune with a multitude of foreign ethnicities and races. In this environment three generations "of women survive the wind, the fire, and even death, based on kindness, daring, and limitless vitality." Raimunda, married to an unemployed worker and a teenage daughter. Sole, her sister, makes a living as a hairdresser. And their mother, died in a fire, along with her husband. This character appears first to his sister and then to Sole, although the ones he left important unfinished business with were Raimunda and his town neighbor, Agustina. Volver is not a surreal comedy, although it sometimes seems that way. The living and the dead coexist without fanfare, provoking hilarious situations or intense and genuine emotion. It is a film about the culture of death in my hometown. Mis countrymen live it with admirable naturalness. The way in which the dead continue to be present in their lives, the richness and humanity of their rites means that the dead never die. Volver destroys the clichés of black Spain and proposes a Spain that is as real as it is opposite. A white, spontaneous, fun, fearless, supportive and fair Spain. Extras: trailer, artistic sheet, technical sheet, featured biofilmographies. Awards: Cinematographic Writers' Circle 2007: Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress (Penelope Cruz), Best Supporting Actress (Carmen Maura), Best Music (Alberto Iglesias). Goya Awards 2007: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress (Carmen Maura) and Best Music. Penélope Cruz nominated for Best Leading Actress at the 79th Academy Awards 2007.