Review of Volver

COMINGBACK…..TO………VOLVER

‘Coming Back’ that’s what Spanish word ‘Volver’ literally means. This is not about translation from Spanish to English; It is about a Spanish film with same name appearing constantly in print media, broadcast show to nominations list of award ceremonies around the globe. From about a year Pedro Almarov’s new work is creating waves at festivals and spilling good ink from critic’s pen from all continents. Phew!!! Finally after long time of hearing hype, Mumbaikars could catch the movie at MAMI film festival screening the movie at Fun Republic. There I rushed leaving a social function mid-way at South Mumbai to multiplex at Andheri – Versova link road to catch the 3-30 show. Even after managing to reach at 3 in a crowded local train and loud ruthless auto rickshaw, obtaining a ticket was juggler’s job. Management and aura were jerking words to fill up a whole sheet of dismay and disappointment, so let’s just forget about it and forgive them.
Crowded popcorn smelling mouths were open ajar to see Spanish dames lighting up the screen. The movie was about past returning to the present, situations and grief engaging from time to time on all women’s family. Protagonist Raimunda played by over curved and bulged at right places actress Penelope Cruz have lost her both parents to a house fire common in some bizarre village of Spain, where wind is strong enough to roll the trash cans down the road. To share her grief is her daughter Paulo and sister Sole. A Madrid based hotel stewardess, married to a drunk who keeps losing his jobs and masturbating himself in bed next to her. A day changes entire course of life, events occur to form a new life. Her daughter Pauola is forced to stab and castrate her father, when he tries to sexually abuse her. Saving daughter and burying secret along with dead body of her husband is prime job of Raimunda now on same night when her favorite aunt passes away in the village. Unable to attend she sends her sister Sole to funeral; where alive her mother comes from dead. Sole learns that her mother wasn’t killed by fire but was very much living and hiding secretly in aunt’s house nursing the old lady.
Sole takes her mother to Madrid and hides her in her apartment. Raimunda is form whom her mother hides in fear f finding her live she would start hating and disliking her as she did in past. Meanwhile, struggling with managing expenses by running a neighbor’s restaurant without his knowledge Raimunda is flabbergasted and taken aback to find her mother in Sole’s bedroom. Past reels back, stories untold are been told, conversations unexchanged are talk upon and facts missed are passed to each other. Desperate wailing mother seeks forgiveness from her daughter for her husband’s monstrous act to molest his daughter and make her pregnant. Suddenly, skeletons deeply buried in hearts are excavated and all this leading to a happy ending of all four women to progress in life to better roads in men’s world.
Pedro Almarov has polished his directorial skills in his hometown where movie is based on since his Bad Education to present this well written masterpiece. Cinematographer leaves no flaws behind to toil upon and blends his work well with good edited screenplay. Penelope Cruz has potentates her Raimunda role in all ways and shed the Hollywood siren image to adapt an actress skin. Audiences are laid back in their chairs biting their nails and wondering over ghastly truths in simple life. Movie has raised emotions of trust and love in all relationships. A must watch for all sensible cinema goers. And amigos please do not restrict this mindblower to a screening in festival.

Gracias Pedro and crew for enchanting us to great Cine wonder.

Rating: ****1/2


Rating Chart:
*- Whatever
**- Please just let it be
***- Hmmmmm
****- Wow, That’s simply fantastic
*****- Is this for real or what!!!!