It was nice to see a movie that didn’t involve romantic love. Ths was part comedy, part historical tragedy, days in the life of…Being from Canada, it was nice to go to a foreign world via this film and see what the customs were like, what the people relationships were like.

How would you describe Penelope Cruz’s sense of style in the movie. Her clothes definately brought a lot of colour to the scenes. She often wore a fitting skirt with a contrasting top. Is this how Spanish women dress? It was somewhat believable seeing her in an athletic suit.

Not a great movie by any great stretch of the imagination, but enjoyable. Cruz is good, but not Oscar worthy. I think everyone was just surprised she managed to emote. Early scenes with the young girl playing her teenaged daughter, who is pretty good, are creepy beyond necessity.

Mostly I just liked the actors and watching it all unfold — it was a fun film to watch.

Wonderful. I thought Bad Education was not too hot, so I’m thrilled to say Almodovar is back with this one!

During the recent Atlantic Film Festival I was able to see Pedro Almodovar’s Volver and I was very glad that I did. The theatre was packed to capacity and it was a lot of fun. With solid performances all around and confident, playful direction, it’s about women, family and struggle. It’s more about the characters than a tightly constructed plot and when I realized that it was very fun as I watch Penelope Cruz struggle to survive with the women in her life. Almodovar manages to fill the film with joy and love even though there are darker and more serious parts. It’s also a great film to see on a big screen.

Continuing his recent run of excellent films, Almodóvar.

presents a tale of incest, murder and phantom mother figures, told in a heightened, melodramatic soapy style.

All you really need to know about this film is that it’s Penelope Cruz’s gig. She holds the screen from beginning to end. Playing poor trash with dignity, and radiating strength, sassiness and strategic forethought that would put Cheney and Rumsfeld to shame. With more than able support from Carmen Maura and Lola Duenas, this is an ensemble piece that examines the tragic, and how it can either destroy us or make us stronger.

Almodóvar reigns in some of the visual excesses of his last few films to tell a story that is completely feminine-centred; relegating men to the sidelines as shadowy rapists or useless lumps of instinct. This is perhaps its most radical element, and one which will have film theorists debating whether Volver is a feminist film or not for many years to come.

The characters are real; they have flaws and unreasonable reactions. However, thanks to the great writing and subtle directing, you take the journey with them and wish them safe passage.

It’s another great film from Almodóvar.