Calle Málaga

A home is not just a property, but a living container of our history and memories. With a spirited performance from Spanish star Carmen Maura, Maryam Touzani’s Calle Málaga explores the tenacity of old age and the unexpected encounters that renew life.

After her acclaimed features Adam (IFFR 2020) and The Blue Caftan (IFFR 2023), Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Touzani returns to IFFR with Calle Málaga, a Spanish-language drama set in Tangier, inspired by memories of her grandmother and dedicated to her. The film tells the story of Maria Angeles, a 79-year-old woman who is visited by her daughter, Clara, a nurse living in Madrid. Clara – who is facing emotional turmoil and economic difficulties – has decided to sell the family home, where Maria has lived all her life. On her journey to resist her daughter’s decision, Maria rediscovers her city and unexpectedly finds a romantic spark that will change her life.

Co-written by Touzani and Nabil Ayouch (Razzia, IFFR 2018), Calle Málaga sets this warm portrait of the city against the estranged relationship of mother and daughter. Legendary actress Carmen Maura in the star role gifts us with a spirited performance, embodying the wilful determination of a woman ready to do anything to keep her house and belongings – including reinventing herself to stay true to her roots. 

– Cristina Álvarez López