Volver

Volver

            This film was definitely a tribute to women.  There were some obvious points to this thought, all the main and just about every character was a woman.  A man committed a horrendous act, was killed, stored in a freezer then buried in that same freezer, in a river bed.  The more subtle traits were the strength of all the women portrayed in the movie.  Not to mention that Raimunda was a stunningly attractive woman, who controlled, if not manipulated pretty much everyone she encountered.  But did it with a smile and charm that made you want to do what she said.  Irene, the mother, though in a different way was also a prominent character in the movie.  She reappeared as a caretaker for their aunt, after being believed dead for many years.  After Irene’s sister, Aunt Paula (Raimunda’s aunt) passed she took on the task of caring for Augustina.  A person giving care for others, is a trait of strength.  Their strength through several deaths, including a self defensive killing, nosey neighbors, is blatantly present throughout the movie. 

            An example of tension between superstitious beliefs and real life aspects through the film could be, the thought that dead people in the village return to their loved ones and that the wind make the villagers crazy.  Irene is thought to have perished in a fire then she reveals herself to her daughters.  The wind is mentioned a couple of time throughout the movie.  Large power generating wind turbines are shown during driving scenes, to and from the village to the city.  Aunt Paula is believed to have lost her wits in the years prior to her death, though some of it was actual truth.  Irene did come back to help her in the later part of her life. 

Chris Pappas