Carmen & Bolude

Carmen and Bolude is a fun movie but carries a strong message. There are engaging characters and especially strong female leads. There are lots of laugh out loud moments and some tears. All the feels in one digestible package with some lingering messages to think about.

Those lingering messages are explored around cross cultural relationships and identity in an adventure that includes New York, Sydney and some spectacular NSW sites. The "family dinner" scene is one many will relate too with a level of discomfort that is tangible, squirmy but cleverly, funny. Everyone who has ever felt unseen or not quite sure of who they were will identify.

Carmen & Bolude is genuinely funny, with laugh-out-loud moments throughout the whole film. Even the emotional scenes were supported and relieved by touches of humour, ensuring that the film didn't drag like a straight emotional drama.

The characters are chaotic and flawed yet so loveable, and you can't help rooting for them. The two female leads are exceptional and it was refreshing to see a womance (rather than another bromance).

It was also great to see male characters who were there, not to outshine the women, but to support and bolster them.

Overall, it's just great to see an Australian comedy that's actually funny!

Carmen & Bolude is definitely something worth watching.

The background stories are warm and heartfelt but so naturally funny that you can't help laughing out loud.

The main story line touches on so many different but fundamental emotions and gently nudges you to look at the way we all interact and how much our lives revolve around who we think we are and what we think we are.

The humor is a mix of subtlety and bluntness but is never just for the sake of a laugh, it always reminds you that these are real people not plastic characters.

Carmen & Bolude is so very different to the repetitive, cookie cutter, mainstream movies because it is a real story, all of the characters are slightly damaged and slightly off kilter but so very human.

I'm not normally a movie goer but I was invited to the Australian premier of Carmen and Bolude and thought "sure, could be fun". It was more than that. This movie explored themes of friendship, home, love (romantic and familial) and culture. More importantly it explored how they intersect. If it had been delivered as a drama it probably would have bored me to tears. Instead, the comedic approach lightened what could have been dark moments and had me laughing. There were also moments where my tears flowed freely. I can't remember the last time a film moved me as much as this one did. Watch this movie. You won't regret it!

Carmen & Bolude was inventive, cheeky, and full of heart. I laughed, and teared up and had the theme song stuck in my head for the next week. It's packed with discourse about race, whiteness, community and belonging that have kept me thinking and reflecting.

The humour was fresh and the two lead performances were great with real chemistry and depth. I want to watch more from both of their discographies, and will be looking out for them in other Australian films/series. The supporting cast was strong too - and huge!! Lots of people did great things with a few minutes on screen.

Also, I love to see a review from angry "movie guy" who can't stand not being a target audience for a film! That's how you know you've done a great job. When you piss a man off so much they go on a very-telling rant. "It's not the feminism... I hate it because of the colour grading!" Delicious 😋

I saw the movie at a public cinema (it was the only movie with at least one woman on the poster), and have been telling my friends to go see it. The cinema experience was full of love, joy, community and discussion.

I believe any creative project is its process first, the product of that process second - and what matters most is its impact. It feels like this film has made wonderful impact already, and I hope it keeps getting the platforms to keep doing so!