Cast: Penélope Cruz, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Carmen
Pedro Almodóvar

Three generations of women that survive the wind, the fire, the madness, the superstition, including death based on kindness, lies, and vitality without limit. They are Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) married with an unemployed laborer and a teenage daughter (Yohana Cobo), Sole (Lola Dueñas), her sister who makes her living as a stylist, and their mother (Carmen Maura) who died in a fire next to her husband. This character appears first to her sister (Chus Lampreave) of the deceased mother to the siblings, and after to Sole, although whom she left issues pending was with her daughter, Raimunda and with the neighbor, Augustina (Blanca Portillo). Volver is not a comedy surrealist, although from time to time it appears to be. The living and the dead live together without strides, causing hilarious situations or of a genuine and intense emotion.

Tres generaciones de mujeres sobreviven al viento solano, al fuego, a la locura, a la superstición e incluso a la muerte a base de bondad, mentiras y una vitalidad sin límites. Ellas son Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) casada con un obrero en paro y una hija adolescente (Yohana Cobo). Sole (Lola Dueñas), su hermana, se gana la vida como peluquera. Y la madre de ambas, muerta en un incendio, junto a su marido (Carmen Maura). Este personaje se aparece primero a su hermana (Chus Lampreave) y después a Sole, aunque con quien dejó importantes asuntos pendientes fue con Raimunda y con su vecina del pueblo, Agustina (Blanca Portillo). Volver no es una comedia surrealista, aunque en ocasiones lo parezca. Vivos y muertos conviven sin estridencias, provocando situaciones hilarantes o de una emoción intensa y genuina.

Además, la película ya tiene fecha de estreno en Estados Unidos (el 11 de agosto) por lo que seguramente entrará en la carrera a los Oscar, ya sea mediante la Academia Española de Cine o por su cuenta, como hizo con 'Hable con ella'.

Quinceanera (15th Birdthday) takes a look at what happens when adolescent sexuality, traditions, and the price of property clash. It is a story motivated by the racial, sexual and social class tensions of a true latin neighborhood that goes through a period of change.

Magdalena (Emily Rios) is the daughter of a Mexican-American family that operates a church in Echo Park, Los Angeles. As Magdelena's fifteenth birthday approaches, her life is consumed by thoughts of her boyfriend, her Quinceañera dress, and the Hummer limo she hopes will show up on her special day.

As fate would have it, a couple months prior to her special day, Magdalena is delivered an unwelcome surprise–she is pregnant. Although the preparations for her 15th birthday continue, her father, a devoutly religious man, at any time could uncover her secret and disown her.

Forced to leave and abandon her home, Magdalena moves in with her great-granduncle, Tomas (Chalo Gonzalez), who lives on the sales of a strong drink known as champurrado. Also living with great-granduncle Tomas is Carlos (Jesse Garcia), Magdalena’s cousin, a cholo who has been rejected by his own family for being gay. Carlos doesn’t hide his feelings about the arrival of Magdalena.

Tomas has lived quite happily for many years in a house he rents which is located in the back of a main house just recently acquired by an upper class gay couple (David W. Ross and Jason L. Wood) – pioneers of urban gentrification now threatens the only neighborhood they know. Inevitably, the two worlds clash when they must interact with the lives of their tenants.

As time passes, Magdalena’s pregnancy becomes more visible and her, Carlos and Tomas join efforts as a family of outsiders. But the change of the neighborhood turns against them. Lastly, the situation manifests into a crisis that threatens their form of life.

Ganadora del Premio del Gran Jurado para Película Dramática y
Premio del Público en el Festival de Cine Sundance 2006

Escrita y dirigida por Richard Glatzer y Wash Westmoreland

UNA PELÍCULA DE SONY PICTURES CLASSICS