European Social Realism

     Social realism is a technique used in filmmaking that strives to create a sense of the issues that everyday people deal with in reality. As Ken Loach says, in a socially realistic film, a character must not be "beautifully made-up," but must reflect a real person. The characters must act within their social contexts, and not portray some unrealistically stunning person with a remarkably perfect life, as is done in many Hollywood films. Social realism is a device through which filmmakers can send a message out to their audience. Loach says that these films are meant to clarify social issues, and force the audience to see the truth of the world in which we live, and the underlying problems that many people do not realize are present in society. For instance, Loach mentions a film about a woman who starts her own business. At first she is just a normal person, but owning her own business changes her, and makes her see that people will do anything for a profit, whether or not it is beneficial to other people. This film could be seen as a warning against what problems manifest in a capitalistic society, in which profit comes before people. In this example, it seems that many people just accept capitalism as the best form of economy, but social realism can be used to shed light on the downfalls of such an economy. Social realism is not meant to necessarily be solely entertaining, but is more of a work of art that carefully displays a snapshot of very real situations that have great meaning, and about which society needs to be aware. 

    All or Nothing, directed by Mike Leigh, is a good example of a film marked by social realism. First of all, none of the characters appear to be a typical Hollywood movie-star, with well above average physical attributes. Every actor in the film looks like a real working-class person that one might encounter on the street, and furthermore, they all appear to be exhausted with life, and generally melancholy. This is because in the real world, when one must schlep to work everyday, only to make enough money to stay above the surface, it is tiring, and leaves little room for great leisure and happiness. 

    

    Ken Loach talks of the instability of the modern-day working-class life. This instability is definitely portrayed in All or Nothing, in which the three families' lives are in constant turmoil, largely caused by the urban spaces in which they live. The families are physically trapped by the city, with continuous noise and bustle, and an air of anonymity. It makes sense that the characters would be annoyed with each other constantly, being confined to such small spaces, even outside. Also, the issue of making enough money plays a big role in the quality of relationships. For example, when Phil is scrounging for spare change, his family becomes quite tired of it, especially Penny. While the families strive to pull themselves out of their financial situations, their relationships begin to deteriorate. These are problems that real families deal with, and that the rest of society needs to be aware of. 

    It seems that social realism is a technique used much more in European films. Americans appear to be much more removed from trying to get to the bottom of our issues, which may either by why our directors don't utilize social realism, and may also be because our directors don't. It seems like Americans are much more liable to accept things as they are, whereas in Europe, there is more the sense of the power of the people to change what they feel is wrong about society.

Universality of Volver

The film Volver is a universal film for a few reasons. First of all, the movie deals with the subject of the relationship between mother and daughter, a topic that most women can relate to, no matter where they come from. The film stresses the importance of a strong bond between mother and daughter, and all women in general. Most of the men in the film are dead, but the women are strong, and stand together to live their lives fully. One can see the emphasis on this kind of strong relationship in the scene in which the mother who is supposedly dead tells Paula to be nice to her Raimunda. This then brings the two closer, and it is clear that Paula realizes that it is important to cherish her relationship with her mother. Raimunda's relationship with her mother is an example of what happens when mother and daughter do not stick together, but the theme of this important relationship comes out again when the two come together again in the end.

Another universal subject of the film is that of sexual abuse. Most society's deal with the problem of abuse against children, and Volver shows how sexual assault can tear people, and families, apart. Perhaps Amoldovar wished to make a social commentary on the subject, and show how common it is for children to be sexually abused, especially by men in their own families. There must be something about our society that makes these sexual crimes a norm, and allows them to constantly take place. I believe that Amoldovar wanted to make a statement against patriarchy, and emphasize the injustices that are usually made by men to women. 

A third topic touched upon in the movie Volver is death, which every person on Earth can relate to. We all die, and this film death is one of the major themes. First of all, even characters that are dead still play a big role in the other characters' lives. For instance, it is believed that the Raimunda and Sole's "dead" mother has been taking care of the sick Aunt Paula for years. Even though the mother is supposedly dead, she still has influence on people's lives. Death also acts as a liberation of sorts. When Paco dies, although Raimunda is strapped for money, she no longer has to deal with a brute husband who she did not seem to love. She then is empowered, and even begins running a restaurant on her own. For Agustina, her impending death is her character's biggest motivation throughout the film. Not only does she go on reality television to be guaranteed an operation, therefore putting off death, but she also tries desperately to find out what happened to her mother, perhaps to gain closure before her eventual death from cancer. Death is present all throughout the film.

Volver is truly a universal film. Its many themes are not just Spanish ones, nor are they European ones, but they are themes that most humans deal with.