Almodóvar: Return to Hollywood?

by Vitor Pinto

28/09/2006 - The Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences has announced this morning that Volver [trailer, film focus] by Pedro Almodóvar has been chosen as Spain's entry for the 79th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language film category.

Volver (see focus), a female family tale combining ghosts, murder and incest that still manages to draw an optimistic lesson from it all, has beaten the other two candidates, including recent local box office hit Alatriste [trailer] and Cannes title Salvador [trailer] (see news).

Already awarded two Oscars – Best Foreign Film in 2000 for All About My Mother and Best Screenplay in 2003 for Talk to Her [trailer] - Almodóvar might thus repeat his success in Hollywood, where he travelled in the past couple of weeks to promote Volver.

The film, which is set for theatrical distribution in the US on November 3 (Sony Pictures), will screen at the New York Film Festival (September 29-October 15) and its leading actress, Penelope Cruz, will receive the Best Actress Award at the 10th Hollywood Film Festival (October 18-23), in what might be seen as a preview to a potential Oscar nomination.

Volver is a local and international success among audiences and critics: it has grossed almost €10m in Spain so far, sold to over 20 territories and won several prizes, including the FIPRESCI Award – given to producer Agustín Almodóvar (El Deseo) last Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 54th San Sebastian International Film Festival.