Warner Bros Pictures International (WBPI) has acquired PedroAlmodovar's upcoming Volver fordistribution in Italy. The film stars Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Duenasand Chus Lampreave.

Volver becomes thethird Almodovar project to which WBPI has acquired select distribution rights.The company previously distributed the Spanish director's Hable conElla (Talk to Her) and La Mala Educacion (Bad Education) for certain international territories.

Commenting on the deal with Almodovar and his productioncompany El Deseo, Richard Fox, executive vice president, international forWarner Bros, described the director as "a world-class filmmaker with a unique,exceptional vision. We're happy to once again be working with him and El Deseo onthis new film and look forward to many more collaborations in the future."

Almodovar wrote and is directing Volver, which he hasdescribed as a meeting of Mildred Pierceand Arsenic and Old Lace combinedwith the surrealistic naturalism of his own early film Que he hechoyo para merecer esto'! (What HaveI Done to Deserve This'). The film tellsthe story of three generations of women living in the lively, multi-ethnicworking-class neighbourhoods of Madrid.