by MATTHEW HAYS

Though resilient auteurs have undoubtedly existed before, the career of Pedro Almodóvar is a singular achievement. A potent symbol of the brazen, post-Franco Spain, the filmmaker has made the careers of a small gaggle of Spanish actors (among them Antonio Banderas), and has created his own strange style, one that continues to evolve magnificently.

After Bad Education, his dark meditation on Hitchcock, child abuse and drag, it was difficult to know how Almodóvar would come up with a follow-up act. It’s a nice turn: with Volver—and the word translates as “return”—he goes from the boys of Education to women. It makes sense that the writer-director has made nods to Tennessee Williams, given their shared penchant for drawing rich, complex female characters. Penélope Cruz is cast in her best role yet, as a woman in an abusive relationship. When her boyfriend attempts to rape her daughter, the girl fights back and kills him. Cruz knows she’s got to cover things up, and that’s when the movie becomes an Almodóvar-esque web of deceit and intrigue.

In the film’s most charming conceit, Cruz’s hour of need is met by her late mother. Why have a dead character stay dead when you’re in an Almodóvar film? In a hilarious twist, Cruz’s mom appears again, in ghost form (played by regular Carmen Maura, who’s brilliant here—many are suggesting Maura, Cruz and Almodóvar are all sure-fire Oscar nominees).

With Volver, Almodóvar manages to return to his home turf of La Mancha, consider themes of mortality, abuse and personal happiness, and make a film that is never maudlin and always stimulating. It’s a funny and odd little movie—not the director’s best, but one that will keep fans sated.

While at the Toronto International Film Festival, the director discussed his inspiration for the movie and its characters. He said that part of coming up with Cruz’s character was the padding Dustin Hoffman wore on his ass for Tootsie. The line got a lot of laughs, but Almodóvar wasn’t really even joking—a typical move from this cheeky, constantly surprising filmmaker.

Volver opens Friday, Dec. 8

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