Carmen

Since the late WWII period, when she was 16, Carmen has been the unpaid housekeeper for her brother, the local priest. When he dies suddenly in the 1980s, a local woman's brother is supposed to be the replacement priest, and that woman will act as his housekeeper, displacing Carmen. The Catholic Church hypocritically and heartlessly throws Carmen out on the street, where she has various adventures and misadventures, helped in part by her knowledge of church processes.

Her backstory is that her life was saved by a young Arab, with whom she fell in love, and with family opposition, her role as housekeeper was the equivalent of "get thee to a nunnery".

Carmen's transformation from dour housekeeper to glamorous woman was a delight, as was the scenery. While this was "based on a true story", I wonder how much is fiction. Carmen seems to be good at giving advice to others, while she seems so naive herself. Meanwhile, the ending is a tad too Shakespearean for me.

It's a comedy-drama set in the 1980s in the Republic of Malta. It follows the life of a late-40s woman after the sudden death of her older brother. She had served as a housekeeper for her Catholic priest brother for 30 years. It's loosely based on the life experience of the director's aunt.

Carmen (Natascha McElhone)'s family forced her to look after her brother, Father Francis (Henry Zammit Cordina), from age 16. He is austere and disliked by his small-town parish. After his death, another priest plans to come. The new priest's sister, Rita (Michaela Farrugia), will look after him.

Carmen has nowhere to go, but God keeps supplying signs to guide her. Some of the options she chooses are engaging and very funny. At one point, Carmen has a relationship with a young pawnbroker, Paulo (Steven Love), which includes more drama. Throughout, we have flashbacks to a relationship she had as a young girl with an Arab boy, Ahmad (Chakid Zidi).

There is a resolution of sorts by the end, though some story threads are incomplete.

This engaging movie is about blossoming in middle age after three decades of repressed living. Natascha McElhone is excellent, as is Steven Love as Paulo. Many of the fringe players are also very good. The cinematography makes full use of Malta's beauty. Highly recommended.

The director grew up in Toronto but had a Maltese heritage. The film is a joint Canadian-Malta project.

In a sleepy town on Malta, Carmen (Natascha McElhone) has been taking care of her brother, the local priest, since she was 16 years old. One day, he drops dead and she is left all alone in the world. A new priest is taking over with his own sister housekeeper. Carmen is expected to leave for her family even though she has none. She finds herself taking confessions from the town folks and searching for a life of her own.

Sin is the central theme of this movie. It's the heartbreaking reveal. Rita is obsessed with it. The women in town suffered under it. The movie should open with the priest berating the women and warning against the sin of disobeying their husbands. That would set up the rest of the movie much better. I really love the confessions. It is noticeable that McElhone is changing her hair color along the way. That may be too much. She should keep her greys. This is a wonderful little movie.

In a year of really terrific films, Carmen stands out as one of the most endearing, fresh, and unique stories that has made its way to the screen in 2023.

Set in 1980s Malta, on the historically infused island of Gozo, this tale of a woman doomed for life by the tradition of having to serve to her brother's needs while in his position as a Roman Catholic priest may seem, at first, somber. But when she is released from her servitude by her brother's unexpected death, her life spirit is awakened while discovering the world to which she was denied access for her entire adult life.

The film is filled with whimsy, humor that made me laugh out loud repeatedly, and clever and inspired synchronistic plot elements. It's quirky, it's delightful, it's sweet, and it's a brilliant gem that deserves an audience.

Besides the refreshing story, star Natasha McElhone shines, as she always does, but the way in which she transforms in this film is extraordinary. She plays the lead character with such empathy and conveys a spirit of child-like discovery - as if she was entering the world for the first time. At the same time, she is so believable that when we see her character also being very resourceful and clever, it feels authentic. And besides McElhone, there isn't a flawed performance in the film.

To add to the outstanding performances, the setting of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago is breathtaking. As viewers, we not only discover the traditions of Malta, but also the magnificence of its sweeping and enigmatic landscapes and enchanting towns. Everything comes together giving the audience a magical and uplifting experience. Yet it also reveals archaic and dark practices of the Catholic church from an observational perspective rather than from a judgmental one.

This is a film that I haven't hesitated in the least recommending to everyone I know. It's rare to find such ebullience in such an intelligent script about a woman who finds her voice and place in a world still all too fraught with damaging patriarchal structures. Bravo to writer/director Valerie Buhagiar for sharing a story inspired by her own aunt's challenging circumstances in such a creative and heartfelt way.

Thoroughly enjoyed this tale of a 50 year old Catholic woman relegated to serving her much older priest brother. When he dies and she is left alone with no money, she gets creative. Most of the film is about her innovative and sometimes surprising choices as she survives and transforms.

Set in Malta, the scenery and architecture are beautiful. Most of the plot is situational, so there is little character development, aside from Carmen herself.

If you are looking for realism, this not your movie. If you enjoy imagining alternate realities, ridiculous events, and happy, though implausible endings, this is it! You won't be sorry.