By Roger Costa
CALLE MALAGA
Distinctly elegant, lively and full of uplifting spirits, a senior Spanish woman spends her sunny days in the Moroccan city of Malaga, known for its diversity and immigrant flux, fully engaged to her community and in total peace of mind with her private solitude and longing her late husband. Her presence is as colorful and vibrant as the city itself, which she cares for a lot, the same as she does for the roses in the balcony, or the respectful and empathic behavior towards the local community of Arabs.
As the film opens, we are introduced to this fascinating character, gloriously performed by iconic star Carmen Maura with enigmatic playfulness and gripping depth, as she walks down the streets of Malaga, gathering the last items for her enthusiastic preparations on the highly awaited arrival of her estranged daughter. Once there, things are not as expected and Maria is about to be devastated with the news her daughter is bringing: she decided to sell the house she inherited from her late father and so her mother must leave the house she’s been living for over 4 decades in order to fulfill her daughter’s demand- she claims everything is expensive, she cannot afford the expenses in Madrid and sees no reason why her mother should occupy the large property on her own. Perplexed and frustrated, feeling betrayed and abandoned, Maria is given two options by her straightforward, selfish daughter: either move out to a local senior’s house or to come and live in Madrid with her.
Since we already know the deep connection between Maria and the city, as well as her relationship with the locals, we’re in for a good fight: she isn’t giving in so easily and will risk everything to get her house back. She starts a clandestine operation and runs against time, while becoming romantically involved with a businessman who previously bought all her furniture- she manages to buy them back piece by piece. The narrative explores this eccentric scenario with soft humor, candor and sensibility, never exhausting or becoming irrelevant.
Carmen Maura anchors this beautifully shot and executed female character study with so much passion, dignity and veracity that would be a shame not to include her among the best performers in cinema this year. The viewer is immediately connected to her from the moment we first see her walking the Malaga streets, and when she faces displacement and disappointment coming from the inside, it breaks us apart- but it gives us reason enough to cheer for her, as we believe in her strength and determination.
Director Maryam Touzani, working on a crowd-pleasing and affectioned screenplay co-written with Nabil Ayouch, crafts an admirably emotional and singular story about broken family bonds, the consequences of prioritizing materialism over humanism, and the sacrifices made in the name of integrity. Touzani, who won an Audience Award at last year’s Venice for this poignant work, also casts an eye on the universality of female longing and eagerness, the obstacles of aging and the thrill of a new romantic beginning, all while reflecting on the city’s mysterious charm and the importance of community values.
(A Strand Releasing Release. Now Playing exclusively at Film Forum NYC and other cities. Go to https://strandreleasing.com/ for details).
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