Only if you are advanced. Volver is fast, natural Spanish from La Mancha and Madrid, mostly among women talking over one another, so it is a rich but demanding film, and at 121 minutes it is worth seeing more than once.
- Level
- Advanced
- Format
- Film
- Year
- 2006
- Length
- about 121 min
Why it works for learners
Almodóvar writes women who talk constantly: neighbours, sisters, aunts sorting out family matters and gossip. You get a kind of warm, quick domestic Spanish that few textbooks show, full of affection, complaint and exclamation. The move between village and city also lets you hear rural and urban Spain side by side. Since so much is conveyed through faces and situations, the story survives even when you miss a line.
What makes it hard
Overlapping speech and regional expressions make for a tough listen. Older village characters can be hard to understand, and family relationships take time to sort out. Some scenes refer to adult themes, so the emotional language is not always simple.
How to use it
Watch first with subtitles in your language to know the story. On the second viewing, use Spanish subtitles and stop at conversations between sisters. Note expressions of affection and complaint. Then try one kitchen or neighbour scene with no subtitles.
More for Spanish learners: our Spanish guides.
Keep it where you'll see it
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