This Volver lesson focuses on Almodóvar’s use of music, genre and the meaning of the title, offering a clear and engaging analysis of how these elements contribute to meaning in the film.
 
Students first explore the role of music in Volver, analysing how songs and instrumental music help convey emotion, memory and identity, and how music shapes the viewer’s response to key scenes.
 
The lesson then moves on to genre, examining how Volver combines melodrama, comedy and magical realism. Students analyse the characteristics of each genre and explore how Almodóvar blends them to create an emotionally powerful yet realistic story.
 
Finally, students focus on the meaning of the title Volver, linking it to themes of return, memory, family and the past, and evaluating its symbolic significance within the film.
The lesson includes 15 structured student activities, designed to build analytical language and exam-ready responses, as well as three essay titles that can be used for homework or extended class work.
 
This lesson works well as a standalone session or as part of a wider unit on Volver or Almodóvar’s cinematic style.
 
The lesson includes:
PowerPoint with answers (32 slides)
Printable student booklet (14 pages)
Essay-style homework options (3 titles) - each of them include and already made plan.