Volver (2006/I)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Pedro Almodóvar

Writer:

Pedro Almodóvar (writer)

Release Date:

26 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

After her death, a mother returns to her home town in order to fix the situations she couldn't resolve during her life.

Plot Keywords:

Village | Fire | Secret | Grave | Car

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 44 wins & 47 nominations

Cast

Penélope Cruz	...	Raimunda
Carmen Maura	...	Irene
Lola Dueñas	...	Sole
Blanca Portillo	...	Agustina
Yohana Cobo	...	Paula
Chus Lampreave	...	Tía Paula
Antonio de la Torre	...	Paco
Carlos Blanco	...	Emilio
María Isabel Díaz	...	Regina (as Isabel Díaz)
Neus Sanz	...	Inés (as Nieves Sanz Escobar)
Leandro Rivera	...	Auxiliar Producción
Yolanda Ramos	...	Presentadora TV
Carlos García Cambero	...	Carlos
Pepa Aniorte	...	Vecina
Elvira Cuadrupani	...	Vecina
María Alfonsa Rosso	...	Vecina (as Alfonsa Rosso)
Fany de Castro	...	Vecina
Eli Iranzo	...	Vecina
Magdalena Brotto	...	Vecina
Isabel Ayúcar	...	Vecina
Concha Galán	...	Vecina
Mari Franç Torres	...	Vecina
Natalia Roig	...	Vecina
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pilar Castro	...	Ayudante de la presentadora (scenes deleted)
Carmen Machi	...	Hermana de Agustina (scenes deleted)
Raimunda Sánchez Expósito	...	Elderly woman who falls asleep in funeral
Agustín Almodóvar	...	Empleado ferretería (uncredited)
Luis Lattanzi	...	Hungry second camera assistant (uncredited)

Directed by
Pedro Almodóvar

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Pedro Almodóvar		writer

Produced by
Agustín Almodóvar	....	executive producer
Esther García	....	producer
Toni Novella	....	line producer

Original Music by
Alberto Iglesias

Cinematography by
José Luis Alcaine

Film Editing by
José Salcedo

Casting by
Luis San Narciso

Production Design by
Salvador Parra

Set Decoration by
Mara Matey

Costume Design by
Bina Daigeler

Makeup Department
Jessica Aguirre	....	trainee hair stylist
Jessica Aguirre	....	trainee makeup artist
Ana Caballero	....	assistant makeup artist
Massimo Gattabrusi	....	key hair stylist
Esther Gázquez	....	assistant hair stylist
Ana Lozano	....	makeup supervisor
Mariló Osuna	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Federico Rozadillas	....	assistant unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rafael Carmona	....	first assistant director
Eva Sánchez	....	second assistant director
Mari Franç Torres	....	third assistant director
Jacob Santana	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alejandra Loiseau	....	construction manager

Sound Department
José Antonio Bermúdez	....	sound
Jaime Fernández-Cid Buscató	....	boom operator
Ruth Márquez	....	assistant boom operator
Miguel Rejas	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Juan Alonso	....	digital compositor
Aníbal del Busto	....	digital compositor
Eduardo Díaz	....	visual effects supervisor
Sergio Garcia Abad	....	senior cgi artist
Ramón Ramos	....	digital compositor
Thorsten Rienth	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Ángel Plana	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Yolanda Cáceres	....	electrician
José Ramón Delgado	....	first assistant camera
Luis Lattanzi	....	second assistant camera
Joaquín Manchado	....	camera operator
Juan Pompas	....	electrician
Alberto Sánchez Beltrán	....	electrician

Casting Department
Patricia Álvarez de Miranda	....	casting assistant
Ana Sainz-Trápaga	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ana Cuerda	....	key costume assistant

Editorial Department
Kathy Thomson	....	digital colorist

Music Department
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor

Other crew
Yuyi Beringola	....	continuity
Sergio Díaz	....	location manager
Juan Gatti	....	credits
Marina H. Molini	....	production apprentice
Deborah Palomo	....	publicist

Thanks
Núria Moreno	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Canal+ España (participation)
• El Deseo S.A.
• Ministerio de Cultura (participation)
• Televisión Española (TVE) (participation)

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Applause Entertainment (2006) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Paradise Films (2006) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• TOBIS Film (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• GAGA (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Odeon (2006) (Greece) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• El Ranchito (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cinesol  generators provided by
• E.P.I.C.  camera equipment provided by
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Rafael Catering  catering

Also Known As:

To Return (USA) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated R some sexual content and language.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Italy:T | Italy:VM14 | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:AL | Hong Kong:IIA | Sweden:11 | Spain:13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Peru:14 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Almagro, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Company:

Canal+ España

Trivia:

Penélope Cruz became the first Spanish actress ever to be nominated for Best Lead Actress at the Oscars.

Quotes:

Raimunda: Are there things I should know and don't?
Sole: Oodles.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-11-04)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Volver

Vivacious, Heartbreaking, Funny, Colourful & Wonderful

'Volver' starts at a cemetery where the women are cleaning the graves on a windy day. Young mother Raimunda (Cruz), who after attending her mother's grave, finds herself widowed, thanks to her daughter. Her sister, Sole (Lola Duenas) sees a ghost of her dead mother and their battling-with-cancer friend Augustina is in search of her own truth about her mother. Almodovar's colourful canvas is a wonderful portrait of women in Spain. Though it is a colourful portrait, it's dark but somewhat humorous and appealing. Almodovar tells the story in a sensible but somewhat simpler tone. There are some shocking revelations but 'Volver' does not dwell on any one particular incident. It's the story of the women.

Penelope Cruz gives one of her finest performances. It's been evident in her recent film choices (that also include 'Bandidas' that she's experimenting with different roles. As Raimunda, she speaks her mind, she's energetic, she's brave and a risk taker but at the same time she's vulnerable and is hiding a dark 'shameful' secret. Lola Duenas's Sole is a loner (but she loves her sister and niece). She's independent and satisfied with her life. The actress does nothing short of a great job. Carmen Maura is equally great as the 'ghost' bringing lots of laughter but even during Irene's own vulnerable sad moments she is outstanding. Portillo's Agustina, is a quieter lonely character who loves the sisters. The actress skillfully underplays her part and her immense talent is especially evident in the darkly humorous and somewhat sad talk-show scene. Like Almodovar's 'Todo Sobre Mi Madre', 'Volver' is about distinctive female characters and the viewer loves these women and feel involved in their stories.

Like most Almodovar's films, the soundtrack is part of the narration that adds to his slightly weird chaotic world. Similarly, Iglesias's score brings out the richness of the atmosphere created by the wonderful cinematography (thanks to excellent photography). The Spanish streets, the vivacious culture is just presented in Almodovar's unique style.

'Volver' is witty, warm, funny, colourful, disturbing, uplifting and lightly dark with a well told story and lovable characters portrayed wonderfully by the actresses.