Calle Malaga (M) – 116 minutes

A spirited, elderly woman who lives alone in Tangier in Morocco refuses to leave her home, even when prevailed upon to do so by her daughter.

Calle Malaga is a dramatic, romance that features a delightful performance by Carmen Maura in the lead role as 79-year-old Maria Angeles Munoz.

To Maria Angeles, home is where the heart is and that is in her comfortable apartment overlooking the hustle and bustle of market vendors. 

She knows them and they know her, because she has lived there all her life.

Maria Angeles is very much looking forward to a visit from her daughter, Clara (Marta Etura), whom she sees only rarely.

But when Clara arrives, she is anything but conciliatory.

The married mother of two who resides in Madrid has had an acrimonious break up with her husband and has significant money issues.

So, with the power of attorney over her parents’ apartment, which was given to her when her father (Maria Angeles’ husband) died 20 years ago, she lays down the law.

Put simply, Clara determines that she will have to sell the flat.

Maria Angeles must move out and, either, come to live with her or transition to an old age home, where – as a local – she can live for free.

Clara also sells all the furnishings, including Maria Angeles’ beloved record player, to local antique dealer Abslam (Ahmed Boulane).

Maria Angeles’ only confidante, whom she regularly shares her life stories with is a former school friend and now nun named Josefa (Maria Alfonsa Rosso).

Ever so reluctantly, Maria Angeles chooses the old age home, but it is quickly clear that it is not for her.

She takes matters into her own hands and moves back into her empty apartment, with the power and water switched off.

Maria Angeles is determined to retrieve her furnishings from Abslam, even at an inflated price, while keeping her daughter at bay. 

But what happens next comes as a delicious surprise to her.

Director and co-writer (with Nabil Ayouch), Maryam Touzani has created a charming fantasy story born out of a need to reconnect with her memories.

When Maryam was born, her Spanish grandmother was already living with her parents in Tangier.

Like many Spaniards, she had moved there as a young girl and stayed for the rest of her life. She could never have imagined leaving the city she adored. 

Carmen Maura embodies the passion that Maryam was so keen to explore.

She is ageless, vibrant, clever, obstinate and sensual – and she has us, the audience, on her side throughout.

This is a woman not ready to turn up her heels at anyone’s say so.

I also appreciated the contrasting, humourless role played by Marta Etura as her highly stressed daughter.

Playing the convincing villain of the piece, opposite someone asked to be as dynamic as Carmen Maura, was never going to be easy, but Etura nails it.

Facial expression is the key to pulling off the part of a silent nun, which Maria Alfonsa Rosso does with distinction. 

A large part of the joy in this film is in the magnificent surrounds and cinematographer Virginie Surdej produces picture postcard material.

I could see myself being manipulated by the storyline, but I was sold on the spice on offer.

Rated M, Calle Malaga scores a 7 to 7½ out of 10.