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.