Volver is a film that is a tribute to women and their resilience in the face of life's most outrages tribulations because they continue to re-establish themselves. Raimunda was sexually abused by her father but managed to repress this ugliness and raise an emotionally sound and happy daughter/half sister. She was able to look at her daughter without anger even though she was the result of her father's rape. Then to view her mother with such love after confronting her concerning the time of the rape. Her ability to forgive gave her the strength and hope to move on.
The night Paula killed her father for attempting to rape her, Raimunda reassured her everything would be fine, she should forget and not think of it again. They were resourceful in hiding the body and eventually burying the body near the river. It was touching at the end of the film when Raimunda and her daughter reflected on the idea of how Paco loved the river; they had great pleasure and peace in knowing his final resting place was on the shore of the river. their energy didn't stop there. Knowing their financial situation would change, they began catering in the restaurant next store to their house.
The two points of tension I noted between superstitious beliefs and real life was the East winds and the return of the dead. The winds made people crazy when it blew and they were quick to state this as the source for less than normal behavior. The return of the dead, as uncomfortable as the living were to recognize this superstition, they welcomed the idea and were curious to know the unfinished business. Aunt Paula's great care was related to the fact that Raimunda's mother had returned to see to things since she had raised her daughter during those tough times. If I had not have known what Volver meant I would not have made the connection to the superstition.
Justice was sered when the fathers both met their demise; one dying by fire and the other with a knife wound.
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Your blog is very good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statements about Raimunda and how she was able to look at her daughter without anger. She truely loved her daughter which under the circumstances I find very amazing. I think in reality it would be hard because every day would be a constant reminder of the sexual abuse at the hands of her own father. Raimunda showed her unconditional love for Paula when she told her that she would take responsibility for killing Paco.
When it comes to the superstition concerning the East winds and how they thought it made people a little crazy we now know can be explained by the return of Raimunda's mother, Irene. Aunt Paula was not crazy and seeing things Irene really was there taking care of her.
I also agree justice was served when both men met their demise, but do we feel that way because we are women and that is what we would want to happen if one of our loved ones was abused like Raimunda and Paula?
Linda,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your blog. Raimunda showed great unconditional love. She was willing to protect her daughter no matter what the cost. This seemed to be noted throughout the film, with Irene taking care of her sick aunt and by becoming so angry at what her husband had done to his own daughter that she killed him and his lover, who was Agustina's mother. She showed her remorse and decided to care for Agustina as she died, as this was the least she could do for her since she did kill her mother. The great resilience of women and their ability to persevere no matter what the circumstance, was presented in this film very well. I think no matter what the culture is, whether it be Hispanic, German, American, or any other, women will always be the ones who stay the strongest for the love of their family.