Almodovar is always best when with the ladies (think Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown or What Have I Done to Deserve This?) and here sisters are definitely doing it for themselves – male characters barely get a look in.

The life of working class mum Raimunda (Cruz) is turned upside down when her good-for-nothing husband meets a sticky end.

Bundling the body in a failing restaurant Raimunda is minding for a friend, she becomes revitalized and turns around the restaurant's fortunes.

Meanwhile, her fragile sister Sole (Duenas) receives a visit from her dead mother (Maura) who begins helping her with home hairdressing and airing family secrets, while a stoner friend (Portillo) has some secrets of her own.

An infectiously fun and moving tale of loyalty and murder, Volver is a delicious reworking of old Hollywood melodramas from Mildred Pierce to The Reckless Moment.

The title comes from a Spanish song meaning Coming Back, relating to pasts the characters would prefer to forget.

Although tackling some dark themes, including incest and revenge, Almodovar’s direction is bright and colourful, capturing the sun-bleached vistas of earthy La Mancha, matched by its larger than life women.

The female cast collectively won the Best Actress prize at Cannes but Cruz is clearly the standout.

Casting vanity aside her Raimunda is a fierce den-mother, protecting her dotty sister and withdrawn daughter, heavily made up and dressed down, and even sporting a false bottom as Almodovar claims all La Manchan women are larger in the derriere department.

Duenas from The Sea Inside and Maura, star of Women on the Verge... are excellent support, but Cruz makes the movie her own.

A suspense thriller, melodrama and surreal comedy all in one, only a half-baked romantic subplot and lengthy running time prevent Volver from being a modern classic.

But, with a movie as enjoyable as this you’ll be coming back for Pedro’s next.

Rob Daniel