Review of Volver (2006) by Michael K — 01 Jun 2009

Iâ??m slowly working my way through Almodovarâ??s work and this is the first of his films that Iâ??ve really enjoyed. Most of the criticism Iâ??ve read of him is that his films donâ??t really have much to say.

Volver could easily be accused of this. What saved it for me was the performances, which were entertaining, and the presentation of the culture that surrounds death in their community. Itâ??s slightly melodramatic although with any film that touches upon the subject of dying thereâ??s usually some emotional pull and if Volver does seek to exploit that it does so in the context of whatâ??s gone on before.