Volver (essay plans)

La actidud de Raimanda al principio

- Para empezar, Raimanda se comporta de una forma defensiva y enfada

- Un resultado de lo que ha sufrido de una niña

- Su padre absuó de Raimunda siendo adolescente

- Raimunda se distanció de su madre y se fue a vivir a Madrid

- En la primera escena, cuando están limpiando las tumbas, dijo que su "Mama tuvo suerte" morirse

- El tono de su voz que se usa es muy enfado y esto enseña que hay mucha historia y razones con respecto a porque está tan triste

Los sentimientos de Irene

- En cuanto a Irene, está claro que quiere mucho a su hija Raimunda

- La escena cuando Raimunda canta la canción que le enseña su madre, Irene

- Cuando se esconde en el asiento de atrás del coche, su madre la observa y escucha desde el coche, lo que le hace llorar, llena de emoción

- La escena es emotiva porque se da cuenta que su hija es una mujer

- Vuelve a visitar Raimunda para arrepentirse

- Es muy conmovedora

Su reconcilliación (Irene y Raimunda)

- Irene y Raimunda dan un paseo por la noche para hablar y sientan en un banco

- Arreglan su relación

- Irene le dice que ella "estaba ciega" a la situación

- Irene explica a Raiumunda que le entendió todo

- También contó que ella fue responsable por el incendio

- Raiumunda tiene su madre otra vez cera

- La escena está llena de dramatismo y emoción

La muerte: Primera escena

- La muerte es el tema de fondo de volver

- Cuando están limpiando las tumbas en el principio

- Todos los personajes tienen algo relacionado con la muerte

- La primera escena transcurre en un cementario- introduce la muerte

- Sole, Raimunda y Paula limpian la lápidda de sus padres

- Murieron en un incendio juntos

- El ángulo de la camera se ve en una dirección diferente que normal

- Va de derecha a izquierda

La muerte: Las actitudes de los personajes hacia la muerte

- Hay reacciones diferentes entre las mujeres y los hombres

- Cuando Paulo asesina Paco (porque se intentó abusarla), Almódovar retrata como una cosa positiva porque tuvo que defenderse

- Solamente Raimunda se deshace del cuerpo

- Los colores en el fondo y su ropa son rojos y muertran el peligro

- Cuando muere la tía Paula, las mujeres están de luto, vestidas de negro

- Respetan la gente fallecida- La tía Paula está en un ataúd

- Todos las mujeres están llorando

- Hay un contraste de como trataba Raimunda el cuerpo de Pacoy el respeto que hay para el cuerpo de la Paula

- También estaban llorando todos y fur una escena emotiva

- Los hombres están fuera de la casa

La muerte: los fantasmas

- Los vecinos del pueblo no creen que la gente muere de verdad

- Asuman que los ruidos en la casa son fantasmas

- Las supersticiones son una parte fundamental de sus creencias

- Al morir la tía Paula, las mujeres del pueblo dicen que "fue su espíritu"

- No tienen miedo a verlos

- Agustina jura que ha visto el fantasma de Irene

- En sus ojos, el fallecimiento es un viaje a la vida de ultratumba

El color: La ropa

- La ropa de Raimunda y Paula antes y después de asesinato de Paco

- Antes, Paula llevaba Ropa más brillante, colores vivos y juveniles y rosa pero después, la audencia ve que cuando Raimunda se encuentra con su hija, esperándola en la calle, los dos llevan ropa de culpabilidad

- A lo largo de la película, lleva el rojo que indica su culpa y su estado de peligro

- Crea tensión porque presagia el crimen que ha hecho Paula

- Demuestra su culpa, pero también que no pueden escapar

- Porque las dos están llevando rojo, puede ser una señal de apoyo y el amor

La muerte: De luto

- Llevan negro

- La tradición religiosa que mantiene las costumbres y la religión viva

- Los hombres están fuera de la casa, vestidos de blanco y todas las mujeres están vestidas de negro entonces significa que las mujeres son victimas

El color: la sangre

- Hay un clip donde Raimunda sostiene el cuchillo que fue fatalmente usado para matar Paco, hay mucha sangre cubriéndolo

- Está claro en este momento hay un sentimiento de peligro y el rojo subraya esto

- Limpia toda la sangre con cuidado y remoja en el papel absorbamente

- La sangre manchada el el papel blanco es una yuxtaposición de la culpa y la inocencia

- El rojo es "una mancha" que ha cometido Paula

El color: La relación con lo que ocurre

- Raimunda cantando la canción volver porque su hija nunca le ha escuchado cantar

- Lleva un vestido blanco y rojo

- Mientras su madre la está mirando, el rojo significa que Raimunda todavía tiene mucho amor por ella

- Raimunda no sabe que su madre puede verla entonces el blanco representa que se ha movido a Madrid para tener una vida de nuevo y deja los recuerdos del pasado 'volver'

El papel de las mujeres: independientes y autosuficientes

- Paco, el padre de Paula está sentado con una cerveza delante de la tele y Raimunda le pregunta sobre su trabajo, pero Paco contesta que ha sido despedido

- Casí inmediamente, Raimunda (la mujer de paco) toma la responsibilidad de encontrar un trabajo para su único día libre

- Almodóvar demuestra que las mujeres, también tiene la capacidad de trabajar porque Raimunda enseña su determinación en resolver la situación

- Después de que Paula mate a Paco, Raimunda continúa ganando dinero para sí misma

- un gran impacto dinanciero para la familia porque Raimunda era la que mantenía la familia realizando más de un trabajo

El papel de las mujeres: físicamente fuertes

- No es común en las películas

- La audencia puede ver esto por primera vez cuando paco quiere violar a Paula

- A destacar que un personaje inocente como Paula puede defenderse de un hombre peligroso enseña a las chicas como personas robustas

- Podemos ver en varias escenas que son sólo las mujeres que se encargan del congelador

- El hecho que las mujeres están representadas físicamente fuertes, rompe con el esterotipo de la mujer débil que necesite una figura masculina a su lado

El papel de las mujeres: Cercanas

- No hay que olvidar que casi todas han sido víctimas de los hombres

- Pero Almodóvar enfatiza que las mujeres se cuidan, unas a las otras

- Cuando Sole, la hermana de Raimunda, permite que su madre se queda con ella cuando su madre tiene que protegr su identidad porque fingió mmorir en un incendio. En realidad, lo provocó ella para matar a su marido y la madre de Agustina que era su amante

- Raimunda también va a visitar a Agustina cuando estaba preocupada por ella

- Almódovar presenta a los hombres completamente diferentes- peligrosos e inútiles

- Hay un fuerte sentimiento de solidaridad

- Almódovar enseña el papel de las mujeres como simpáticas, cariñosas e independientes

El personaje de Raimunda: su faceta de madre

- Una madre protectora

- Su hija es la más importante

- Cuando Raimunda encuentra el cuerpo de Paco, le dice a Paula que fue ella quien lo mató

- Es una persona y madre luchadora

- Tira del carro con una dignidad y fuerza increíble

- Asume la culpa y muestra su naturaleza fuerte

- Para el resto de la película, asume la culpa

El personaje de Raimunda: La Raimunda del pueblo, el la mancha

- Paco el padre de Paula está sentando con una cerveza delante de la tele y Raimunda le pregunta sobre su trabajo, pero Paco contesta que ha sido despedido

- Casí indemediamente, Raiumunda (la mujer de paco) tomó la responsabilidad de encontrar un trabajo para su único día libre

- Raimunda enseña su determinación de rescatar la situación

- Después de que Paula mate Paco, Raiumnida continúa gandando dinero para sí misma en un restaurante

- Un gran impacto financiero para le familia porque Raimunda era la que mantenía la familia realizando más de un trabajo y se convierte en una mujer emprendedora

- La fuente principal de ingresos

Párrafo 3: La Raimunda de la ciudad

- Con sus vecínas y negocio

- Una convivencia y solidaridad dulce y protectora

- Tiene una relación buena con todas sus vecinas

- Cuando está encargada de una cena para 30 personas, es muy simpática con todos

Simultades entre Sole y Raimunda: Económicamente independiente

- Los dos ganan dinero para sí mismas

- Sole es autónoma- tiene una peluquería ilegal en su pripia casa y vive de ello que relativamente tiene éxito

- Raimunda trabaja en un restaurante

- los dos no confían en los hombers para ganar dinero ya que las dos tienen la capacidad de hacerlo a solas

Simultades entre Sole y Raimunda: Víctimas

- El marido de sole la dejó hace dos años

- Raimunda fue abusada por su padre

- Las dos son superviventes de tragedias familiares

- Sin embargo, las dos siguen a vivir y trabajar

- Todavía mantienen una relación maravillosa con otras mujeres

Diferencias entre Sole y Raimunda

- Sole es más indulgente

- Es mucho más timida y reservada que Raiumunda

- Permite que se quede su madre con ella y acepta la vuelta de su madre sin cuestionar nada más

- "Mamá..hay algo que quieres que yo haga...no?

- Sin embargo, Raimunda reacciona en una forma diferente

- Cuando le ve a su madre, se pone llorar y abandona la casa con su hija

- Sole es mucho más aceptada y comprehensive cuando Irene vuelve en su vida

Las diferencias entre la vida urbana y rural en la película: Los pueblos - La mancha

- La mancha de volver es la mancha de la infancia de Almodóvar- el rio es donde iba con su madre cuando era pequeño

- Representa el refugio de la presión de vivir en la ciudad moderna en la ciudad

- La Mancha tiene tradiciones que son únicas

- Por ejemplo, los vecinos fueron my simpáticos cuando Raimunda quería comprar comida de ellos

- Por ejemplo hay mujeres limpiando las tumbas

- Los diminutivos que usan en la mancha

- Agustina: vive en el pueblo y tiene la creencia que Irene es un fantasma

- Está creencia es normal y aceptado en el pueblo

Las diferencias entre la vida urbana y rural en la película: La ciudad- más católica

- Raimunda trabaja en Madrid

- Hay mucha más gente

- La gente no se conoce como en el pueblo donde son más unidos

- Hay demasiada gente

- Agustina tienene que ir a la televisión porque nadie la conoce y quería hacerse conocer

Las diferencias entre la vida urbana y rural en la película: técnicas como el color o la música

- Música: la primera canción es la zarzuela que es una canción tradicional

- En el pueblo, Raimunda canta el Flamenco 'Volver' que significa volver a los tiempos más simples

- El decarado utilizado por el director

- Por ejemplo, las calles que son vacías, es obvio para el espectador que no es Madrid, pero un pueblo

- Las casas también son pequeñas

- Las turbinas eólicas es un símbolo de la región en el mundo actual y moderno, mientras que, el el pasado, era donde luchaba Don Quijote con los molinos, creyendo que eran menstruos

Cómo el director presenta el campo y la ciudad en la película.

Pedro Almodóvar presents a variety of urban and rural locations that help the viewer understand the origins of the characters and how they evolve with time.

In the village, people are more accustomed to dealing with death. For example, women clean the tombs of their loved ones. Another example is that the idea of ghosts living among them is completely normal.

The pace of life is different in the village and the city. For example, the village is depicted as a more quiet, traditional and bright place where the wind is the natural force that brings movement; life there seems to stay still, for example Agustina and Paula have very quiet lives. The city is busy, for example, Irene and her sister live very hectic lives there. Raimunda has more than one job and Paula is always busy with clients.

Family life is conflictive in both places; however, it seems to be more quietly dealt with in the village. For example, people either choose to live covering their problems for a long time (Irene) or choose to leave the village to escape from their problems (Raimunda).

Examina el efecto negativo que los hombres tienen en las mujeres en la película

The male characters are almost not existent in the film; however, they have a direct and profound negative effect on the female characters and their lives.

Irene's husband destroys their marriage, by abusing their daughter and being unfaithful to her. Because of this, Irene has to live her life as a ghost after having murdered her husband.

Raimunda is disappointed in men and is betrayed by both her father and husband. For example, Raimunda has to endure sexual abuse from her own father and gives birth to a daughter from this incestuous relationship. This damages her relationship with her mother as Raimunda does not forgive her mother for not preventing the abuse.

Paula continues with the bad experiences women in her family have with men. For example, she nearly becomes the second victim of rape in the family and unlike Raimunda she manages to repel the attack and commits a crime, which she must live with for the rest of her life.

Explica la relevancia que tiene el uso de la canción Volver en la película. En tu respuesta puedes considerar: • La infancia de Raimunda. • Raimunda cantando para el equipo. • La letra de la canción.

Almodóvar uses the song 'Volver', famously sung by Carlos Gardel, to highlight the strong bond between Raimunda and her mother Irene. The song indicates the passage of time and the return of the mother

- Sole explains that their mother taught Raimunda that song as a child for an audition to become a movie star.

- When Raimunda sings Volver for the film crew, the mother, hiding in Sole's car, realises that Raimunda remembers her and still loves her. The scene also demonstrates Raimunda's strength, talent and beauty. Everyone is captivated by Raimunda's singing.

- The lyrics of the song are also linked to the main theme of the film and its protagonist, Raimunda. As in the song, Raimunda has been avoiding a painful past that she is now forced to confront again. 'Y aunque no quise el regreso, siempre se vuelve al primer amor.' In this case, the first love referred to in the song is the love of Raimunda for her mother.

Examina cómo se presenta el tema de la solidaridad entre las mujeres. En tu respuesta puedes considerar: • Irene. • Agustina. • Raimunda y sus vecinas en Madrid.

Students may refer to the following in their answers. In a world where men are either hurtful or absent, solidarity between women is one of the central themes of 'Volver'.

• Irene is characterised mainly through her caring for others. She is hiding in her home in the village in order to look after Tía Paula. On the other hand, she is full of guilt for having failed to protect Raimunda from her husband. Later in the film, Irene decides to go into hiding again in order to look after Agustina. In one of the last scenes of the film, she is seen nursing her, giving her the medicines and injections for the pain. She tells Raimunda she will stay with her until the end.

• Agustina represents the solidarity amongst neighbours. She keeps an eye on Tía Paula, knocking on her door every morning to make sure she is all right. She knows many of Raimunda's family secrets, but she keeps them to herself out of loyalty. For example, she chooses not to speak about Raimunda's father in the TV show or to the police.

- Raimunda finds help from her neighbours in the city, who help them with stocking food and serving in the restaurant. Thanks to them, she is able to improve the catering for the film crew.

Examina cómo mentir es uno de los temas principales de la película.

Lying is part of the lives of the characters in the film and affects the way they deal with everyday issues as well as life changing situations.

● Raimunda lies about her employment and tricks the owner of the restaurant into thinking that she is looking after it, while she is actually using it to make some extra money.

● Raimunda lies about the whereabouts of Paco to hide the fact that her daughter has killed him for trying to abuse her. She does this very naturally and people are happy to think that he has just left her. Also, Raimunda has never told her daughter Paula that she was abused by her father and that Paula is effectively her sister as well as her daughter.

● Irene lies about her own death in order to hide from her crime. She chooses to become a ghost and renounces her freedom. This allows her to care for her sister, make peace with her daughters and look after Agustina in her final days. It is not until the end of the film that Irene reveals the truth about her husband having an affair with Agustina's mother and the fact that she set fire to the house to kill them.

Analiza las relaciones entre madre e hija que se presentan en la película

One of the main issues in the film is mother and daughter relationships. There are similarities and differences in the relationships, but each is marked by traumatic events.

● Irene and Raimunda are emotionally separated by the secret abuse by Raimunda's father. Once Irene finds out, she reconciles with Raimunda. Raimunda had assumed Irene always knew and did nothing to protect her. This made Raimunda resentful towards Irene.

● Raimunda and Paula become very close following Paco's attempt to rape Paula. Raimunda shows Paula that she would do anything to protect her, possibly as an intentional contrast with what she thinks her own mother did.

● Agustina's mother suddenly disappears, and Agustina feels that she has been abandoned by her. It is not until she is older that she tries to unravel the truth.

● Irene, who is the reason for Agustina's mother's disappearance, decides to look after her during her last days as a way of repenting for what she has 42 done to her. This can be seen as her adopting a maternal role towards Agustina.

Analiza cómo evoluciona el personaje de Raimunda después de la muerte de Paco

Lying is part of the lives of the characters in the film and affects the way they deal with everyday issues as well as life changing situations.

● Raimunda lies about her employment and tricks the owner of the restaurant into thinking that she is looking after it, while she is actually using it to make some extra money.

● Raimunda lies about the whereabouts of Paco to hide the fact that her daughter has killed him for trying to abuse her. She does this very naturally and people are happy to think that he has just left her. Also, Raimunda has never told her daughter Paula that she was abused by her father and that Paula is effectively her sister as well as her daughter.

● Irene lies about her own death in order to hide from her crime. She chooses to become a ghost and renounces her freedom. This allows her to care for her sister, make peace with her daughters and look after Agustina in her final days. It is not until the end of the film that Irene reveals the truth about her husband having an affair with Agustina's mother and the fact that she set fire to the house to kill them.

"Almodóvar demuestra que los personajes de la película superan los eventos terribles en su vida y consiguen sacar algo positivo de su situación". Analiza esta afirmación y justifica tus respuestas.

• The abuse of Raimunda as a child leads to the estrangement between Irene and her daughter, but also leads to the birth of Paula, whom Raimunda loves unconditionally.

• Her own experience as a child makes Raimunda an understanding and caring mother, determined to protect her daughter.

• The death of Irene's husband and Agustina's mother in the fire started by Irene also has some positive outcomes.

• When Irene goes into hiding in the house of Tía Paula, the positive outcome is that she is able to look after her as Paula becomes increasingly confused and unable to fend for herself.

• When Agustina is dying, Irene knows she must care for her (as she is responsible for Agustina's mother's death) and ensures she knows peace and comfort at the end.

• After Paula fights off the unwanted attentions of her step-father, she turns to her mother in her hour of need.

• The relationship between them, having been cool and undemonstrative, becomes stronger and more expressive. Paula learns to appreciate her mother and show her feelings.

• When Sole's husband leaves her, she sets up an illegal hairdressing salon to survive, and makes a success of it.

• The murder of Paco leads to a significant and positive development in the plot; the need to temporarily store the body inspires Raimunda to take charge of the local restaurant premises, with its chest freezer.

• This leads to a chance encounter and Raimunda appears to blossom as she manages the restaurant business and caters for the visiting film crew.

• She even sings again, as if the death of Paco has released a new love of life.

• The death of Tía Paula saddens her nieces but it also means that Irene can no longer hide away in Tía Paula's house; as a result, she decides to return to seek forgiveness.

• Irene is reconciled with her daughters and forms a strong bond with her grand-daughter.

• The abuse of Raimunda as a child leads to the estrangement between Irene and her daughter, but also leads to the birth of Paula, whom Raimunda loves unconditionally.

• Her own experience as a child makes Raimunda an understanding and caring mother, determined to protect her daughter.

• The death of Irene's husband and Agustina's mother in the fire started by Irene also has some positive outcomes.

• When Irene goes into hiding in the house of Tía Paula, the positive outcome is that she is able to look after her as Paula becomes increasingly confused and unable to fend for herself.

• When Agustina is dying, Irene knows she must care for her (as she is responsible for Agustina's mother's death) and ensures she knows peace and comfort at the end.

• After Paula fights off the unwanted attentions of her step-father, she turns to her mother in her hour of need.

• The relationship between them, having been cool and undemonstrative, becomes stronger and more expressive. Paula learns to appreciate her mother and show her feelings.

• When Sole's husband leaves her, she sets up an illegal hairdressing salon to survive, and makes a success of it.

• The murder of Paco leads to a significant and positive development in the plot; the need to temporarily store the body inspires Raimunda to take charge of the local restaurant premises, with its chest freezer.

• This leads to a chance encounter and Raimunda appears to blossom as she manages the restaurant business and caters for the visiting film crew.

• She even sings again, as if the death of Paco has released a new love of life.

• The death of Tía Paula saddens her nieces but it also means that Irene can no longer hide away in Tía Paula's house; as a result, she decides to return to seek forgiveness.

• Irene is reconciled with her daughters and forms a strong bond with her grand-daughter.

Analiza cómo presenta Almodóvar las relaciones entre madres e hijas en la película.

• Almodóvar emphasises a mother's fierce desire to protect her children at all costs.

• When Paula stabs Paco, Raimunda's first reaction is to defend her daughter and she instantly assumes responsibility for his death with no thought for the consequences for herself.

• Raimunda is doubly motivated to protect Paula, knowing from experience the devastating effect of being let down by her mother.

• Irene tells Raimunda she was right to hate her in the past because she failed in her basic duty as a mother - to protect her daughter.

• Almodóvar also shows the importance of a daughter's love for her mother and the need to express that love, as Irene tells Paula.

• Paula is affected by her grandmother's story of the estrangement between her and Raimunda and runs to kiss her mother, quick to act upon Irene's advice.

• Irene's grief is clear when she recalls losing her daughter's love; she talks of Raimunda's neglect in the past, and how she turned her affections to her aunt Paula.

• Irene returns from the 'dead' to win back her daughter's love and to seek forgiveness; the anxiety on her face when she first faces Raimunda shows her fear of rejection.

• Irene is confident that Sole will welcome her back. She slots easily into Sole's life and Irene's companionship eases Sole's loneliness.

• Almodóvar shows how daughters still need their mothers at any time of their life, particularly in times of need.

• Paula appears the typical truculent teenager, trailing along with her mobile while her mother visits her elderly aunt, but instantly turning to her mother when she is in need of help.

• A key scene is at the end where Raimunda pursues her mother and, like a child once again, tells her she was missing her and that she needs her.

"En esta película Almodóvar presenta un retrato muy positivo de la vida tradicional de los pueblos". Analiza esta afirmación, justificando tu respuesta.

The presentation of village life is generally positive, with a close-knit community and carefully selected locations which transmit the essence of traditional Spain - traditional interior patios, tiles, village houses, unlocked doors.

• Traditional village life functions as the custodian of solid and reliable values which go back generations - loyalty, respect, friendship and support for each other.

• Alternative beliefs are explored, such as the belief in ghosts which is updated for a modern audience, as Irene really does 'come back' from the dead. • Life in the village is generally portrayed more positively than life in Madrid, establishing a positive comment about traditional values and codes of behaviour.

• Village life adheres to age-old social customs - women gathering together, organising wakes for the dead, segregation of women and men in the funeral, cooking traditional dishes - especially cakes.

• Village food becomes more than just tasty regional delicacies and turns into Raimunda's means of survival. She gathers village delicacies from her neighbours to feed the film crew. • The pace of scenes in La Mancha creates a more relaxed and peaceful atmosphere for the village.

• Life in the pueblo is squarely located within a domestic context, stressing the importance of home and family.

• Death is dealt with in a traditional way - Aunt Paula dies in her bed and, for the wake, she lies in the bed of Agustina's mother.

• The village is perceived to be both the link and the anchor for the women portrayed - they all have their roots there and are drawn back to the solace and support it provides in times of trouble.

• However, rural life is not all positive: young people like Raimunda and Sole have abandoned the village for the city in search of the opportunities offered and, for Raimunda, the village was the scene of the abuse she suffered as a girl.

Analiza los factores que motivan las acciones de Raimunda.

Raimunda is an impulsive character, who often acts without thinking.

One of her main motivations is to protect her daughter - she covers up Paco's murder in order to protect her.

Raimunda could have rejected Paula, since she was the result of abuse, but her love for her motivates her protection. Protecting Paula (and to a certain extent herself) is also her motivation to marry Paco: she wants her daughter to grow up within a family.

One of Raimunda's actions was to put distance between her mother and herself, and eventually leave for Madrid. The motivation for this action was assuming that her mother knew about the abuse, but did nothing to prevent it - this is not true, but Raimunda believes it to be. Again, she is trying to protect herself.

For Raimunda, family ties are very important - they motivate her visits to her aunt Paula, and her desire to help her. Family ties are also the motivation for Raimunda's actions towards her sister: even when she thinks she has betrayed her (taking aunt Paula's suitcase), she forgives her.

Raimunda is a caring person, and this also motivates her actions.

She disposes of Paco's body in his favourite place: she wants him to rest in the place he liked going to the most. This shows care for somebody who maybe does not deserve it.

Another action resulting from Raimunda's caring nature is the way she cares for her family: she is prepared to work three jobs, and to take on the restaurant, so that she can provide for her daughter

"Al presentar los aspectos más feos de la sociedad, Almodóvar da una imagen negativa de España". ¿Estás de acuerdo con esta afirmación? Justifica tus ideas.

In Volver, the characters belong to lower classes and some do jobs that could be described as sordid (eg Regina is a prostitute).

There are several examples of abuse of minors: Raimunda's father abuses her and gets her pregnant, Paco tries to abuse the teenager Paula.

Irene deals with the abuse by burning alive her husband and his lover.

Agustina goes to a reality TV show which focuses on the most sordid aspects of her life: telling the story of the affair her mother had with Raimunda's father, in exchange for medical treatment in Houston.

Sole's income comes from an illegal hairdressing business that she is running from home.

Sole's husband left her and hasn't been heard of for two years. Also, Irene's husband slept around and did not care for his family

In Volver, the characters belong to lower classes and some do jobs that could be described as sordid (eg Regina is a prostitute).

There are several examples of abuse of minors: Raimunda's father abuses her and gets her pregnant, Paco tries to abuse the teenager Paula.

Irene deals with the abuse by burning alive her husband and his lover.

Agustina goes to a reality TV show which focuses on the most sordid aspects of her life: telling the story of the affair her mother had with Raimunda's father, in exchange for medical treatment in Houston.

Sole's income comes from an illegal hairdressing business that she is running from home.

Sole's husband left her and hasn't been heard of for two years. Also, Irene's husband slept around and did not care for his family

Analiza los factores que motivan las acciones de Raimunda

Raimunda is an impulsive character, who often acts without thinking.

One of her main motivations is to protect her daughter - she covers up Paco's murder in order to protect her.

Raimunda could have rejected Paula, since she was the result of abuse, but her love for her motivates her protection. Protecting Paula (and to a certain extent herself) is also her motivation to marry Paco: she wants her daughter to grow up within a family.

One of Raimunda's actions was to put distance between her mother and herself, and eventually leave for Madrid.

The motivation for this action was assuming that her mother knew about the abuse, but did nothing to prevent it - this is not true, but Raimunda believes it to be. Again, she is trying to protect herself.

For Raimunda, family ties are very important - they motivate her visits to her aunt Paula, and her desire to help her.

Family ties are also the motivation for Raimunda's actions towards her sister: even when she thinks she has betrayed her (taking aunt Paula's suitcase), she forgives her.

Raimunda is a caring person, and this also motivates her actions.

She disposes of Paco's body in his favourite place: she wants him to rest in the place he liked going to the most. This shows care for somebody who maybe does not deserve it.

Another action resulting from Raimunda's caring nature is the way she cares for her family: she is prepared to work three jobs, and to take on the restaurant, so that she can provide for her daughter.

Analiza las diferencias entre la vida en el campo y la vida en la ciudad en esta película.

Almodóvar shows that life in the village is more traditional. Women are seen cleaning graves, cooking, doing domestic chores.

In the countryside the community is much more close-knit: this can be a positive thing in that everyone goes to Tía Paula's funeral.

It can also have a negative effect in that everybody knows about everybody else: Raimunda's mother cannot be seen outside because people would see her and comment.

Life in the city can be much more challenging from a professional point of view.

Sole runs an illegal hairdresser's salon.

Raimunda needs to have several jobs in order to survive.

Location does not affect either female solidarity or the love between the female members of the family; these are strong in both locations.

There is solidarity between Raimunda and Sole.

Support for Raimunda from the neighbours who help at different points in the story.

Almodóvar shows that acts of sexual violence are not linked to location.

Violence against Raimunda occurred in the village.

The abuse of Paula, her daughter, occurred in the city.

Examina cómo se presenta a los hombres en la película. ¿Te parece que se presentan de forma positiva?

Men are presented purely in a negative way; they are either absent, sexual predators or cheaters.

We learn that Raimunda's father raped his daughter and she got pregnant.

He is shown as remorseful, and he went to Latin America because he could not live with "his guilt".

However, we learn that he cheated on his wife many times, and when he died he was with another woman.

Sole's husband left her and she doesn't know where he is, or whether he will ever come back.

Sole shows a complete lack of trust in him. He is shown as somebody who never did care for her.

Raimunda's husband married her when she was pregnant with her father's baby, and in that sense he is shown as somebody who protects her.

However, he is depicted as a good for nothing drunk who is sacked from his job, and expects Raimunda to support him and do everything in the house as well.

Eventually, he will try to molest Raimunda's daughter, repeating the model of men as child molesters and sexual predators.

The men in the village are shown as fulfilling the expectations of society.

They all attend the funeral of Tia Paula and follow the cortege as they are expected to do.

They are never shown to have any individuality away from social conventions.

By contrast, women show solidarity and concern for one another.

The acts of violence they commit are to defend themselves or those they love, not to fulfil their own desires.

Analiza la relación entre el título y los principales temas de la película.

Volver is not only the title of the film, but also the title of the famous song that Raimunda sings. This is relevant as it highlights key themes in the film, such as coming back home, forgiveness, femininity, lost childhood and death.

• Raimunda goes back to her home town which brings back memories of her childhood. Her link to it is now Aunt Paula, as she has lost both of her parents. It is only at the end that she returns there to find peace with her family. This is directly taken from Almodóvar's life, as he comes back from Madrid to his home town.

• The song Volver, that Raimunda sings at the restaurant, was made famous by Carlos Gardel; she gives an excellent performance of it and, given that the song was sung originally by a male artist, it is an example of the theme of femininity and the power of women, in contrast to men.

• The song talks about coming back to your roots after suffering a life full of problems. This links to the theme of lost childhood and emphasises the struggles that Raimunda has gone through since she was a child and she first performed this song on TV.

• Irene is forced to come back from the dead after Aunt Paula passes away. This highlights the theme of death in the film and how it has a profound effect on the lives of the characters and how superstitious beliefs allow her to live among the living without question.

• Irene's return from death leads her to go back to her daughters. Irene and Raimunda meet and forgive each other once the truth is unveiled. This shows how, once the main characters experience forgiveness and closure, they can lead a happier life.

Evalúa hasta qué punto los personajes de la película logran perdonar las acciones de otros.

Characters deal with forgiveness in different ways. Some of them find the opportunity to forgive others, while other characters bear grudges for a lifetime. It could be said the following characters manage to forgive others:

• Raimunda forgives Irene for not protecting her as a child, once she finds out the lengths she went to when she found out the truth about her abusive and unfaithful husband.

• Sole forgives Irene for leaving her as a child, faking her own death. Sole accepts Irene back into her life without question. It could also be said that the following characters do not forgive others:

• Raimunda does not forgive her father for abusing her; however, by helping Paula to get rid of the Paco's dead body, she finds a way to deal with the abuse she suffered as a child.

• Irene does not forgive her husband for abusing Raimunda and having a relationship with Agustina's mother. She takes their lives by burning the building where they are and has to live her life as a ghost because of this.

• Agustina struggles to forgive her mother given that, as far as she is concerned, she abandoned her when she was a child.

Analiza cómo Almodóvar representa la sociedad española en la película

Almodóvar portrays Spanish society by showing some key issues such as casual work, domestic abuse, the taking of soft drugs and the success of telebasura.

• Both Raimunda and her sister Sole take on casual jobs, Raimunda at the restaurant and Sole at her house with her hair salon. This reflects the abundance of casual work in big cities such as Madrid.

• The domestic abuse suffered by Raimunda and Paula reflects a reality of many Spanish homes. Abuse is not only sexual, but also financial and emotional as exemplified by Paco and his relationship with Raimunda.

• Agustina is very open about her use of soft drugs. She explains that it relaxes her, improves her appetite, and helps her deal with her poor health. This attitude is prevalent, as well as the use of other soft drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. • Telebasura is a phenomenon of Spanish society. People are hooked on TV shows that exploit the dramatic circumstances of their guests: "Es que la telebasura tiene algo, es como una droga".

Evalúa la importancia de los símbolos relacionados con la muerte de Paco.

Paco's death is both dramatic and comical. Almodóvar uses different symbols to explore the context of his death, for example the knife, the colours white and red, the kitchen and the fridge.

• The knife that Paula uses to kill Paco is seen in a previous scene when Raimunda is doing the washing up after dinner. This symbolises how common domestic abuse is and how people have to use everyday objects to defend themselves.

• The contrast between the colours red and white, blood and kitchen cloths, acts as a symbol of Raimunda's cleaning skills which help her in her job and to deal with this tragic event; we see her in a previous scene working at the airport doing the cleaning dressed in white and with a mostly white background. • The kitchen is the place where Paco is killed, which emphasises how he tried to abuse Paula at the heart of their own home. This symbolises Paula's vulnerability.

• The fridge where Paco's body is kept before being buried represents the justice and punishment for his abusive behaviour as he does not receive a proper burial. It adds irony and a comic element to the story.