VOLVER: like CHOCOLAT, but with more death and cleavage...

site | trailerThe premise: A mother of two refuses to let death keep her from meddling in her daughters' lives.

The director: Pedro Almovodar.

The result: A charming film about mothers and daughters that at times reminds me of CHOCOLAT in mood and atmosphere. It is more low-key than I expected, given the combination of premise and director. Not a negative, just unexpected.

Almovodar is consistently great at telling stories that revolve around women and their relationships, and this film is no exception. I love the matter-of-fact manner in which the girls' mother takes to her surreal return to their lives. The story covers three generations of women—the ressurrected matriarch, her two daughters (one played by Penelope Cruz), and a granddaughter—and the cast is a wonderful fit together. Attention to the little things makes the Mother-ness pitch perfect, even subtitled. And the sisters are so very.

In different parts of the film, different members of the family know about the Matriarch's return, creating some very awkward situations for the characters trying to keep the secret, and some light suspenseful moments for the audience that become opportunities for laughs. Of course, one has to die before returning to life, so a lot of the plot is driven by death and dying, and dark stories surrounding them, but mostly with the aim of returning to and highlighting the joys and opportunities of life and living.

The film features some excellent Brockovichian cantilvering of Penelope's assets. No complaints, but admittedly, more than a little distraction, I must say. My sister says that there was a bit of a media hubbub about her physique in the last year and a half or so, and it seems like this may have been a conscious response to that.

I'm gonna hafta get sis to put some older Almovodar flicks on her Netflix queue. I remember enjoying many of his early films—MATADOR, TIE ME UP, TIE ME DOWN, WOMEN ON THE VERGE...—but am weak on the details now. I could use a refresher.

If you like Pedro's work, you'll dig this. And if you're not familiar with it, check it out and realize you do like it, you just didn't know. =)

Keep on keepin on~