“Volver,” 15 August 2007 (2006), DVD. Bronwen and I liked this latest Pedro Almodovar piece in praise of Spanish women and their ability to overcome and survive, but she liked it more than I did. Brutal and irresponsible males abound (don’t they always?) and all that’s left for the women is their cunning and solidarity. Sisterhood is powerful; humor is candor. Unusual customs abound (cleaning/scrubbing the graves, multiple cheek kisses). The physical environment (damn that east wind but what lovely windmills) drives people crazy. I loved Blanca Portillo as the sad and loving Agustina, the butch/femme/stoner friend, and was crazy about Chus Lampraeve as the demented Tia Paula. A remarkable performance. Penelope Cruz is hot and cold at the same time. Quite a feat. Her neighbors are a real hoot. Worth seeing, but without the same emotional power and intensity of “Speak to Her” or “All About My Mother”. Oh yes, the plot. Deaths in a family (of several connected sorts) lead a ‘dead’ mother to return to make things right for her girls. Payback is a bitch