Movie Notes: Volver

January 29th, 2008

Movie Notes: Volver

= 3 stars

Starring Penelope Cruz, Lola Duenas, Carmen Maura
Directed by Pedro Almodovar

Amazon Link

Synopsis

Sisters Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) and Sole (Lola Duenas) cope with their mother’s recent death, while Raimunda in particular has unspoken issues. Several unusual events force the sisters to come to a reconciliation sooner than later, and some deep, dark family secrets are revealed.

The Good

A culture study, ghost story, and thriller all in one.
Instead of showing pivotal events, we’re shown only the repercussions. It starts with the sisters’ mother already dead, shows a reaction to but not the murder itself, and Raimunda’s aloof behavior is mostly reaction to her past.
Without giving away too much, for a time it’s unclear if one character is really there, or is instead a ghost.
Holy heck, Penelope Cruz is sizzling with black mascara and messy hair. Her solid yet sad performance forms the foundation of the film.
While one mother and daughter come to terms with a dark secret in their past, another mother and daughter create a new one.

The Bad

I found it rather slow at times. Several key plot points happen very subtly and only through dialogue, which requires commitment on the part of the viewer.
A bit overlong, although the end came so suddenly I was unprepared.
Much of the film is women talking, thinking, and listening. It’s an artsy foreign flick. Definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.

Conclusion

We’re all products of our past, and death can be a catharsis. This is the first Almodovar film I’ve seen, and plan to check out some more.

IMDB: Volver
Wikipedia: Volver
Rotten Tomatoes: Volver 91%