Volver (2006)

Penelope Cruz is a dish and a strong woman who ultimately (with the help of her "late" mother) brings three generations of her family's troubled women back together. Not as artificially polished as a Hollywood film, this is a foreign film about real life and it is a great story with sufficient twists and developments. It would be easy for some to label this a chick flick that engages in male-bashing (or worse) but it is a story about the emotional strength of women and everything that happens is driven by the circumstances of the story. Think of it as Steel Magnolias set near Madrid if you must. The dialog is often rapid so you should know Spanish well or be able to read subtitles fast -- it is a foreign film after all -- and that is its charm. I agree with other reviewers that Penelope Cruz deserves and flourishes in this role, which she would have never received in a Hollywood vehicle. ¡Anda, Pedro Almodóvar! 4.5 stars.