Following its roaring success at Cannes, Pedro Almodovar’s Volver swept into the London’s Mayfair last night, bringing its stars – including the stunning Penelope Cruz – along with it.
A tale of heartbreak, friendship, motherhood and family reconciliation, Volver’s intense, dramatic narrative plays out against the backdrop of it’s creator’s beloved La Mancha, with Cruz leading the pack as feisty mum Raimunda. Unsurprisingly, the director had nothing but great things to say about his first lady: “She’s an extremely strong woman and as an actress she manages to balance humour with a very good dramatic sense. I can ask her to do anything” .
Cruz herself was equally gushing about the man she dubbed “the best director in the world”: “Pedro was the reason I became an actress. He has given me the most demanding part of my career to date. You really look for these types of character. A role that will challenge you. In fact, when we were shooting the film I was terrified at the end of every day. He had huge faith in me and I was so eager to please him. We worked on the project for six months and it was an amazing, amazing experience – one I’ll never forget.”
Of course, it might be Cruz’s face on the poster, but the superb supporting cast – including Almodavar’s other muse, Carmen Maura – give equally gripping performances. “It felt like we were all part of the same family” said Cruz, “Pedro pays so much attention to detail in his movies and the actors are his number one priority".
“I felt like the mother of all of them!” said the director. “The idea of the family is the main theme that runs through the film and to have that feeling throughout the shoot was so good for the movie. I was very, very lucky to work with such wonderful actresses”.
And Hollywood? How does Volver’s star feel about working in America? “I don’t get caught up in all the L.A. stuff. When I go over there I see myself as a European actress working in America.” Indeed, Cruz has just finished shooting bull-fighting biopic Manolete with Adrien Brody and The Good Night with our own lovable scruff Martin Freeman – an actor who she insisted was “one of the best I’ve worked with”.
After such British luminaries as Cate Blanchett, Thandie Newton and Jim Broadbent had hurried to their seats, the last word went to the master himself. As he ascended the stairs to greet the packed theatre, Almodovar turned back and thanked everyone “for being here tonight and not going to the Madonna concert!” Pedro, have you seen the ticket prices?!
Volver opens in cinemas on August 25.