Volver

Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down!, All About My Mother, Talk To Her, Bad Education. These are the few ‘films de Almodovar’ that i had seen earlier. Frankly, i never quite got this chappie, or rather i never got why he was such a big deal. Don’t ask why, it’s just one of those things. Saturated primary colours, transvestites, sexual perversity – i mean its all very good, but the way he handled them did absolutely nothing for me. Too bizarre, too obscure, too pointless for my taste. In fact, my sister insists that the DVD of Talk To Her I gave her has a couple of missing scenes because there is no way the film can end like it does. Well, it shouldn’t, but sadly it does. I’m sorry if i’m stepping on any filmsnob toes here, but i just don’t get it.

Last night I saw Volver, his latest offering, and I let it blow me away. He shows marvellous restraint and control, and that makes the film a must-see (along with Penelope Cruz in push-up bras a la Erin Brockovich). Usually, before watching a film I’m not too sure about, I equip myself with preconcieved notions as supplied by my cineguru Roger Ebert. Unfortunately, guruji is currently recovering from surgery of some sort and hasnt reviewed several recent releases. So, unarmed, i went. Pleasantly surprised, I was.

A woman desperate to forget her past and start afresh. A mother waiting patiently to make amends. An unassuming sister, efficiently juggling the women in her life. A daughter with blood on her han…whoops, have i said too much? Worry not, this barely scratches the surface of the intricate and seamless plot. Throw in a vibrant pallette, a haunting melody, incisive wit, a village driven to insanity by a treacherous easterly wind and the best post-murder cleanup scene ever shot, and you have a masterpiece. I like? I love!

A lot of films that claim to be women-centric actually have characters who, with minor alteration to the plot, are easily replaceable with men. In that respect, Volver is truly a film about women. Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends – all as woman as they come. And as far as performances go, they’re all good, but Penelope Cruz truly sparkles. I’ve never thought she was much good but after yesternight….wow!!!

I haven’t said much about the film, i know. Go to imdb for more info and useless trivia. All i wanted to convey is that this one’s definitely a must-see. I cant wait to find out if guruji agrees (although, age seems to have made the old man somewhat soft. Sigh). Incidentally, did anyone actually understand the end to Talk To Her? Or is it one of those annoying open-ended things? Bah!