After watching any film by Almodovar, I always wonder why I liked it and rarely if. "Volver" revolves around some "Almodovarian" women, with their humane and approachable personalities of female strength and flaws, making their actions seem somewhat reasonable.
The film's setting is visually emphasized by the urban scenery of Madrid and the windmills on the dusty plains of La Mancha. And as it may well had been set elsewhere, knowing Almodovar, any reference to disillusioned windmill-fighting in La Mancha is as little coincidental as his Hitchcock-like use of camera angle to underline different views of the characters/plots. As several men have been killed by returning fires, it may be suggested that there has been some foul-play throughout the towns history, if the fire is seen as a link between incest rapes and passionate murders like Lynch does in "Fire walk with me". The rational protagonist fights fire with the purifying water that rinses the knife, freezes the body and wash away all sins. She is not as affected by the forceful wind that disturbs and wakes the dead, provoke fire and alters human behavior. Isn't it strange how certain characters never seem to fulfill their role? Like the emotional sidetrack of the film-crew leader, never developing. I guess that Almodovar must have a pretty cynical view on love, love being either unfulfilled or tainted. "Volver" is a beautiful composition of characters, events, colors and music that in truth doesn't need any analysis to be appreciated. I think the film would have been equally clear to me had I seen it without subtitles.
The film's setting is visually emphasized by the urban scenery of Madrid and the windmills on the dusty plains of La Mancha. And as it may well had been set elsewhere, knowing Almodovar, any reference to disillusioned windmill-fighting in La Mancha is as little coincidental as his Hitchcock-like use of camera angle to underline different views of the characters/plots. As several men have been killed by returning fires, it may be suggested that there has been some foul-play throughout the towns history, if the fire is seen as a link between incest rapes and passionate murders like Lynch does in "Fire walk with me". The rational protagonist fights fire with the purifying water that rinses the knife, freezes the body and wash away all sins. She is not as affected by the forceful wind that disturbs and wakes the dead, provoke fire and alters human behavior. Isn't it strange how certain characters never seem to fulfill their role? Like the emotional sidetrack of the film-crew leader, never developing. I guess that Almodovar must have a pretty cynical view on love, love being either unfulfilled or tainted. "Volver" is a beautiful composition of characters, events, colors and music that in truth doesn't need any analysis to be appreciated. I think the film would have been equally clear to me had I seen it without subtitles.