This perceptible drama is based on a story and script by Angel Llorente and the same José Luis Garcí . It was the first Spanish film to win an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film . It deals with Antonio Albajara (Antonio Ferrandis) , he is a great writer and professor in the Berkeley University that from San Francisco goes back to Gijón , Principado de Asturias , north to Spain . Long time ago , during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) Antonio exiled to Mexico . Nowadays , he travels to Spain looking for everything that he left behind in his youth when he turned a notorious poet and famous writer in Mexico and USA , winning the Nobel prize with time . In Gijón he resides at a simple hotel run by the sympathetic and helpful Gervasio (Agustin González) who is assisted by a telephonist (Marta Fernández Muro) and a bellboy . Later on , the well-known Antonio meets again with his past in Roxiu (José Bódalo) , an old friend from their activities as footballers in the team Sporting De Gijón and , and his old flame , Elena (Encarna Paso) , whose love story is rekindled . The picture is dedicated to those people who exiled and lived in the thirties .
This is a thought-provoking drama filmed with great sensitivity and feeling . It's an intelligent and touching story , although is sometimes slow-moving and tiring , but is finely developed with sense of style and sensibility . The issue is simple and clearly exposed , as a Nobel prize winner returns to his natal city looking for his past and through his memory , remembering old times ; starting an unforgettable journey by everyone , thanks to his friends , José Bódalo who gives a top-notch performance, and his old flame , Encarna Paso . In this sensitive picture are treated ethics and morals themes developed with great sense of fairness and ductility . Being Spain's official submission to the 1983's Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category and it Won Oscar and another 3 wins & 1 nomination . The main starring Antonio Ferrandis gives an awesome acting as a successful as well as exiled poet and teacher who played in the Sporting of Gijón's soccer team years ago and returns to his origin location . And very good Encarna Paso as spinster Elena , his great-love of past times . Besides , it packs an exceptional and colorful cinematography by Manuel Rojas , as it is well shown on brilliant interiors and the marvelous city of Gijón and gorgeous outdoors of the countryside and villages , being shot on location in Covadonga , Cudillero , Pola De Lena , Roces , Lago Enol , Cangas De Onis ,(Principality of Asturias) and Berkeley University , San Francisco (Usa) . As it contains a spectacular production design by Gil Parrondo who formerly achieved two Oscars (Patton, Nicholas and Alexandra).
The motion picture was compellingly written , financed (by his production company called Nickel Odeon S.A.) and directed by Jose Luis Garci , though it was strongly criticized by melodrama trending and a very maudlin soundtrack , including the repetitive ¨canon by Pachelbel¨ and ¨Begin the Beguine¨ by Cole Porter . José Luis Garci is without a doubt one of the most influential film personalities in the history of film in Spain and perhaps the best known writer/filmmaker in the country . Garci won one Academy Award for ¨Volver a Empezar¨ or "Starting Over". Although Garci was not the first Spanish director to win that award . Luis Buñuel had won the prize in the same category "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" , but this film was really a French entry . After his Oscar win in 1983 for Best Foreign Language Film with Volver a Empezar (1982) , he received three further nominations in that category with Sesión Continua (1984), Asignatura Aprobada (1987) and El Abuelo or The Grandfather (1998 ), making him the most-nominated Spanish director in that category . He has left a distinguished talent in his successful movies throughout the years , as writing as shooting , such as : La Cabina (1972) , Las Verdes Praderas (1979), Sesión Continua , Volver a Empezar (1982), Canción De Cuna (1994), La Herida Luminosa (1997), El Abuelo (1998), Tiovivo c. 1950 (2004) , Ninette (2005) , Luz Del Domingo , among others . And the two great retellings : Crack 1 and Crack 2 in which Garci translates the Noir Film to the Spanish idiosyncrasy . Present-day Garci lives a quiet and retired life . Rating : 7.7/10 . Better than average and well worth seeing . That's why ¨Volver a Empezar¨ is essential and indispensable watching .
