Volver

Volver is yet another movie that shows the strength, courage, and resilience of the Hispanic woman. Irene, Raimunda, and Paula are three generations of women who survived unthinkable situations, cheating husbands, incest, and sexual abuse. But rather than crumble, they pick themselves up  and go on. Irene discovers her husband has a mistress and sexually abuses Raimunda resulting in pregnancy. She takes matters into her own hands and kills him and his mistress, Irene. Everyone assumes it was her who died in the fire with her husband. She goes to check on Aunt Paula before she is arrested. She ends up staying with and caring for senile Aunt Paula (which is very typical of the Hispanic culture - caring for elders) when she realizes that because of the superstition of the dead returning, people who see her assume it is her ghost. Raimunda not only endures being sexually abused and impregnated by her own father, resulting in Paula's birth, but then Paula is almost raped by Paco. Paula murders him in self defense. Raimunda doesn't seem phased by his death, but is more concerned with her daughter. She says she will take the blame if the murder is discovered and then goes right to disposing of his body. This speaks to the strength of family ties as well as a mother's love for her child. After Paco's demise, Raimunda wastes no time in finding a way to support herself and her daughter. She reopens her neighbors restaurant (which he is trying to sell) when a film crew stops by looking for somewhere to eat. The restaurant is not only a huge success, but also serves as a place of fun and refuge, away from all the sadness and tragedy. After many twists and turns Irene and her daughters, Raimunda and Sole, are reunited and mend years of separation, misunderstandings, anger, and quilt.
   It is because of the belief in ghosts in  the village that Irene is able to live among them without anyone questioning seeing her, even after "dying" in the fire. Sole even takes her in and lets her live with her and work in her hair salon. The whole time she assumes it is her mother's ghost and tries to figure out why she has come back. Raimunda doesn't seem to buy into the belief in ghosts like the others do. She act annoyed with Agustina when she asks her to ask Irene about where her mother disappeared to many years ago. When she finally sees her Irene she is confused as to what to believe. Paula convinces Irene to tell them she is really alive. Paula wasn't fooled for a minute.
   The other superstition seen is that of caring for the graves of the deceased. The women of the village spend hours cleaning and placing flowers at the graves. They even care for empty graves until such time as they become needed. It is important that the departed rest comfortably.
Gail Krisko