Themes (rural & urban culture, weather climate, death, rebirth/return, women/maternity/family, lies & secrets)

Question 1

Where did Almodóvar grow up?

Answer 1

In La Mancha

Question 2

How did Almodóvar’s sisters help him with the film?

Answer 2

They were coordinators of Manchegan facts

Question 3

Who is the character of Tia Paula inspired by?

Answer 3

Inspired by Almodóvar’s late mother in her final years

Question 4

What does La Mancha represent, according to Almodóvar?

Answer 4

The origin and beginning of everything

Question 5

What does La Mancha represent for the women in the film?

Answer 5

Refuge from the pressures of modern life in the city

Question 6

How is La Mancha different to the city?

Answer 6

There are stone pavements/roads, traditional home furnishings, harsh winds, a slower pace of life, acceptance of the supernatural and a unique language

Question 7

What typical Manchegan words/phrases do the characters use?

Answer 7

“laborintera” a person who schemes and causes trouble

“apoltronada” a person who puts on weight as a result of not going out or doing exercise

“darle a la lavadora” to talk incessantly

the diminutive “-ico/a” e.g. “igualico” “dinerico”

Question 8

What does Madrid represent?

Answer 8

A challenging adult reality

Question 9

What is Regina a symbol of?

Answer 9

A symbol of the vibrant diversity that exists in the suburban communities of Madrid

Question 10

How many forest fires have there been in Spain in the last 10 years?

Answer 10

More than 20,000

Question 11

Why did Irene deliberately start the fire which killed her husband and Angustias’ mother?

Answer 11

Because they were having an affair inside

Question 12

Why did the fire started by Irene spread so quickly?

Answer 12

Because of the harsh winds in La Mancha

Question 13

How is climate change represented in the film?

Answer 13

The Júcar river near to Raimunda’s home has dried up considerably since she was younger, representing drought/lack of rain

Question 14

What do Manchegans think of death?

Answer 14

As something natural and ritualistic; a journey into the afterlife

Question 15

How is death represented in the film?

Answer 15

In two contrasting ways

The death of Tia Paula; traditional, natural and ritualistic. A traditional Catholic funeral cortege with fully black clothing and separate rooms for men and women

The death of Paco; sudden, tragic but liberating, depersonalised. His body is immediately hidden in the freezer, there is no mourning period, Raimunda and Paula quickly get on with their lives

Question 16

How does the title Volver link to the story of the film?

Answer 16

The film is full of returns, new beginnings and second opportunities

A return of La Mancha, its origins and traditions

The return of Irene into the lives of her family

Second opportunities for Raimunda to smile and be happy by getting a new job that she actually likes, singing again and mending her relationship with her mother

Question 17

How is Spain depicted in Volver?

Answer 17

As spontaneous and fun with a real sense of community

Question 18

In what scene does Raimunda give insight into the importance of womanhood in the film?

Answer 18

In the scene when she answers the door to Emilio whilst cleaning Paco’s body, there is blood on her neck which when asked about it, she says “woman’s stuff” referring to her period

This is both an easy excuse to prevent Emilio from asking any further questions, and an assertion of her feminism/her confidence in being able to control any threats

Question 19

What lies, questions and secrets are present in the film?

Answer 19

Is Irene really a ghost? Her years long secret of pretending to have died in the fire with her husband, in fact she was who started it

Irene choosing not to tell Agustina that she was the one who killed her mother in the fire to allow Agustina to die peacefully

Raimunda and Paula’s secret about Paco’s death

Sole’s secret illegal hair salon in her apartment

Sole’s secret about Irene being a Russian immigrant

Raimunda’s lie to Emilio about Paco leaving her and why she took over the restaurant

Raimunda’s secret that she was sexually abused by her father which led her to fall pregnant with Paula