Volver (2006)

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Starring: Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas

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

Penelope Cruz delivers an absolutely fantastic performance as Raimunda, who tries to make an honest living together with her daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo) and husband Paco (Antonia de la Torre), who might or might not be Paula’s biological father.

When Paco tries to rape Paula, she accidentally kills him. Distressed over his death, and shocked by what he did, Raimunda decides to take the blame for his death. She then hides the body in a fridge at a restaurant she used to work at, seeing that the owner will be away for a while and entrusted the keys to her.

When a film crew approaches Raimunda asking if they could lunch at the restaurant every day while they’re shooting, she impulsively opens the restaurant and runs it herself. Meantime Raimunda’s mother – who is believed to have died in a fire many years ago – returns and stays with Raimunda’s sister Sole (Lola Duenas). Being superstitious, Sole believes her mom returned from the dead because she has unfinished business.

There’s loads of humour and drama in equal proportions, and it gels to perfection. There’s a few shock reveals and twists towards the end. ‘Volver’ is a very well made film with natural performances and a great script.

‘Volver’ received 155 award nominations, winning 61 including Best Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Foreign Language Film of The Year, Best Director, Best Score. Penelope Cruz received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

In Spanish.

Would I watch it again? Yes.