Displaying items by tag: Carmen Maura

CALLE MALAGA

Morocco, 2025, 115 minutes, Colour.

Carmen Maura, Marta Etura, Ahmed Boulane, Maria Alfonsa Rosso.

Directed by Maryam Touzani.

There have been many films about ageing. And, these films offering the opportunity for ageing actresses to bring the challenges alive. Which is the case here, a Moroccan film, directed by Maryam Touzani (her film, Blue Caftan, highly recommended). And the actors is a Spanish, Carmen Maura, well-known over several decades, especially featuring in so many films by the celebrated director, Pedro Almodovar.

In many ways, this film is a celebration of life, of ageing, in the light of a life well-lived. And, Carmen Maura is a vivacious and exhilarating screen presence. No retiring. Of Spanish background, she is Maria Angeles, born in Morocco, growing up there, married, her husband dying, having her own apartment, valuing the apartment and her possessions, friendly with all her neighbours, well known at the market, happy in ageing. There is a great deal of lively atmosphere on Calle Malaga.

She has a daughter who has left Morocco, made a career for herself, married, but now separated, a cantankerous relationship. She arrives, her mother delighted, then communication, a seemingly fatal blow, her mother’s apartment is registered in her name and, in need of money, she has decided to sell the apartment.

Older audiences will immediately share the shock. Audiences at the age of the daughter, experiencing financial difficulties, may well empathise with the daughter.

But, there is great optimism for the rest of the film, rear Angeles escaping from the care home, returning to her apartment, buying back her furniture little by little, and a brainwave given the football enthusiasm of the locals, turning her apartment into a venue for them to watch the matches, an entry fee, her entertaining and the fans enjoying food and drink, and boisterously enthusiastic company.

Can it last? What will the daughter make of all of this? What of the future for Maria Angeles – especially as she gets to know the older man who bought all her furniture and sees a possibility of a future life with him?

Entertaining – reminders of the reality of ageing, and the continued need for respect and love for the older generation.

1. Morocco, The landscapes, the city, the streets, the markets, homes…? Authentic feel? The musical score, atmospheric?
2. The work of the director, a sense of humanity? The presence of Carmen Maura, her career, Spanish, age?
3. The situation, of Maria Angeles, her age, born in Morocco, the Spanish background, the death of her husband and memories, her daughter growing up, moving away, wanting contact with her daughter? Her home, furnishings, decorations, personal? And neighbours and their cheeriness? The markets, knowing everyone, choosing the goods, at home, cooking? Enjoying her old age?
4. Her visits to Sister Josefa, the convent, notes, Sister not speaking, listening, Maria Angeles confiding, expressing her problems, finding solutions? The frank talking, sexual experience, Sister listening? Their friendship since children? The suddenness of her death, laid out, Maria Angeles’ grief?
5. Her daughter, arriving, separation from her husband, family, her mother welcoming her, meeting the friends? The blunt truth, the apartment in her name, deciding to sell it? Her mother’s response, not talking to her, the tension in the house? Sales, the furniture, its being taken? Maria Angeles upset? Going to the aged care home, the interview, the reassurances, her sitting at the meals, her room, her decision to leave?
6. Audience response to her leaving, the escape, going back to the apartment, moving in, the confrontation with the buyer, the money, the plan to buy back all her furniture, the various scenes, the various stages, his response, gradually more personal, and delivering some of the furniture? The record player, her attachment to it, his tracking it down, their travelling to the other city, bargaining, his technique, going for the walk, returning, driving back with the player?
7. The phone calls to her daughter, tense? The people in the market, the young man, the football enthusiasm, the cafe and the patrons, her idea, commissioning him to get fans to the house, the neighbour, advertising on social media, the food, the various fans coming, the enthusiasm, her forbidding fights, prospering? And buying back the furniture?
8. The buyer, his personality, his buying and selling, alone, age, gradually mellowing, even coming to the football matches, the attachment to Maria Angeles, affection, the sexual response, the relationship?
9. The daughter’s return, scenes with the seller and potential customers, signing the sale, reaction to her mother? The interactions, the daughter’s frustration, Maria Angeles and her age, wanting to live in her own home?
10. The buildup to a climax, the film leaving it to the audience to observe, reactions to the daughter, sympathy with Maria Angeles? The future?