Maryam Touzani’s filmmaking, like that of her partner Nabil Ayouch (Much Loved, 2015; Casablanca Beats, 2021; Everybody Loves Touda, 2024), centers on bringing underrepresented characters to the forefront. Following stories of friendship and solidarity – a widowed mother and a pregnant young woman in Casablanca (Adam, 2019) and a gay tailor in Salé (Le Bleu du caftan, 2022) – Touzani now focuses on a woman approaching her 80s living alone in Tangier with Rue Málaga.
The film introduces Maria Angeles, a Spanish expatriate who fled the Franco regime and settled in Morocco, and who is determined to spend her final years there, despite her daughter’s wishes to bring her back to Madrid. The role is brought to life by Carmen Maura, delivering a performance described as both dignified and playful.
Rue Málaga offers compelling character work, including scenes where Maria Angeles organizes soccer nights in her apartment to earn money, and intimate confessions to her friend Josépha, a nun who has taken a vow of silence. The film is already garnering attention for its nuanced portrayal of aging and resilience, adding to a growing body of work that explores complex human experiences.
