Carmen

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.

A feel-good little film detailing how little sprinklings of humaneness and liberalism can overcome systemic failures in society and the church.

The film is the journey of the titular character traversing from being stifled for many decades to discovering how to be happy once again.

The ending is seemingly deliberately unrealistically over-optimistic, and that's the point. It is a film designed to lift one's spirits and see the good in the world again.

While certainly not for everyone - for example, it won't be for those who like only realistic dramas and those who strongly adhere to the stringent side of Catholicism - personally, I feel in love with it.

It doesn't overstay its welcome and has a few laugh-out-loud moments too, especially in the opening third. Recommended.

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.

I'm a big fan of Natascha Mcelhone and I'm so glad I have seen her performances in other films, before watching this. I can't remember having dragged myself through a worse movie in many, many, many years. It's awful. The story is thin at best and the acting is amateurish beyond belief and the songs from this will keep me up at night for weeks to come. Scenery is nice though, that's it. I'm sorry, but there's absolutely nothing to like about this movie, except for how gorgeous Natasha McElhone looks, while she does her lines with a bad accent. I've seen school plays more convincing than this garbage. Please do not trust high star reviews of this, you will not be rewarded for your time, nor patience.

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.