'The Volunteer' is about a mature woman, tired of her retired life and usually comparing herself to her grandmother friends, but she does not have grandchildren, which is what she wants most. Marisa -Carmen Machi- decides to travel to a Greek refugee camp where, in her opinion, they need people exactly like her. When she gets there, she discovers a reality that she could not have imagined and that leads her to explore the limits between love and the need to feel useful. This acceptable movie involves drama, emotion, personal relationships between unfortunate people and human values. Nely Reguera's second drama is a film starring Carmen Machi in which she presents a portrait of the work done by humanitarian workers in refugee camps. In the director's words, we try to "avoid a portrait of the white savior", that is, we flee from a look of superiority and arrogance in the face of a humanitarian crisis of such magnitude. It is a kind and light drama, whenever the child element is introduced it is easier to make us cry, but the film is a maternal story of friendship and humanity that manages to touch on many themes without having to wallow in humanitarian tragedies. It is all this whirlwind of feelings that can overwhelm those who approach the reality on the ground, but some important question arises.
This is an emotional drama, full of feeling, moving scenes and sensational performances. The incredible and sensitive story of a good woman who makes an important decision in her own sad life to save many others. In 'La Voluntaria' we observe how in the "first world" we refuse to face the minutiae of our daily reality while in needy countries they have to live with the greatest hardships without the possibility of escape. Many of these hardships do not disappear but they receive warm clothing with the solution offered by the volunteers. With this we see that beyond needing shelter, food or work, these people need a psychological stimulus that makes them feel like someone, that gives them a project for the future. This seems like a reflection that has been taken advantage of to include in this text, but it is really something that the film induces us to think about. Reguera's look is very accurate. But 'La Voluntaria' also touches on other realities such as the activities of NGOs, the need for maternal love, social relationships, healthcare and cultural confrontations.
Nely Reguera, director of stories with comedic overtones such as 'Valeria', 'María (y los otros)' or the successful 'Benvinguts a la familia', was signed for this drama about migration crises and refugees, while she also explores the need for feel useful.
