Making bad decisions with comical results
FILM REVIEW Carmen Cast: Natascha Mcelhone, Steven Love Director: Valerie Buhagiar Duration: 1 h 27 m Available: In theatres in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver
There’s an old Maltese tradition — no longer practised, I hope — that when a man enters the priesthood there, his sister comes with him to work as an (unpaid) servant, while he does God’s work. Such is the lot of Carmen (Natascha Mcelhone) in this story set on the Mediterranean island of Malta in the 1980s.
Trouble is, when her brother drops dead one day, Carmen is cut loose, unemployed and homeless. The new priest is due to arrive soon, with his own sister ( Michaela Farrugia) to look after him.
Canadian writer/director Valerie Buhagiar was born in Malta in the 1960s and so presumably knows something of this tradition; her film is said to be inspired by true events.
But there’s a touch of magic realism atop the religious backdrop, as Carmen often finds herself following a mysterious pigeon to figure out her next move.
She doesn’t make the wisest choices, but they can be very funny to watch, and we do end up rooting for her. Hiding in the confessional booth one day, she inadvertently hears the sins of one female parishioner, and lowers her voice to provide a unique penance. You wish your husband ill because he mistreats you? Cook him the same meal three times a day until he decides to leave. It’s a great life hack, though probably not Vatican- approved.
Carmen’s unorthodox absolution results in some hefty collection- box offerings, which she then uses to buy food. She also takes the church’s chalice and candlesticks to a local pawnshop, where the owner ( Steven Love) gives her a good deal, and a little romance on the side. Eat Pray Love I guess you could call it.
The screenplay feels a little frayed — I don’t think we ever find out why the new priest failed to show up, and the story ends somewhat abruptly, with a few loose threads left dangling.
But the performances are warm and wonderful, and the scenery ( the film was shot in Malta) is postcard-perfect.
The setting is believably old- fashioned, a long- lost paradise where an ancient custom gets an undated retelling. ★★★