Carmen

86

88 minutes – Drama
Languages: English, Maltese
Festival release date: December 4, 2021 (World Premiere, Whistler Film Festival)
Release date: August 19, 2022
Production companies: Aiken Heart Films, Falkun Films
Canadian distributor: Storyboard Media
U.S. distributor: Good Deed Entertainment 

Carmen stars Natascha McElhone as a 50-year-old woman finding a new start in life through romance. In Malta, it is tradition for the younger sister to devote her life to the church when an older brother enters the priesthood. Inspired in part by the real experiences of writer-director Valarie Buhagiar’s own aunt Rita, Carmen lives a life of servitude from the age of 16 until 50, when her brother dies. Realizing her own mortality, it’s time to leave the church and make up for lost time. Through a set of odd circumstances, she finds herself hearing confessions in her late brother’s local church, to the delight of many parishioners.

Carmen was given the Borsos Award for Best Cinematography at the 2021 Whistler Film Festival. It is named for the late filmmaker Phillip Borsos.
Carmen was included in our Best CDN Films of 2022, So Far.
Also see: Carmen Gets Released.

 

Carmen, movie, poster,

Crew:

Producer:

Pierre Ellul
Coral Aiken
Anika Psaila Savona

Executive Producer:

Daniel Bekerman
Dorothy Coetzee
José Luis Escolar
Mark Gingras

Associate Producer:

Liam Nelson

Line Producer:

Simon Sansone

Director:

Valerie Buhagiar

Screenwriter:

Valerie Buhagiar

Cinematographer:

Diego Guijarro

Editor:

Matt Lyon Peter Strauss

Composer:

Richard Feren

Production Designer:

Sandra Smirle

Art Director:

Jon Banthorpe

Cast: Roles:

Natascha McElhone
Steven Love
Richard Clarkin
Mikhail Basmadjian
Maxime Durand
Michaela Farrugia
Henry Zammit Cordina
Peter Galea
André Agius
Pauline Fenech
Paul Portelli
Chakid Zidi
Rachel Fabri
Angie Balzan
Becky D’Ugo
Stephanie Sant

Carmen
Paulo
Tom
Joe
Jesus
Rita
Fr. Francis
Police Officer
Tonio
Giovanna
Monsignor
Amad
Rena
Josie
Maddalena
Girl