Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Touzani follows up her critically acclaimed “The Blue Caftan” with “Rue Málaga,” a vibrant and sensual fresh film starring screen legend Carmen Maura as a spirited octogenarian whose life is unexpectedly disrupted.
Maria, a 79-year-old Spanish woman, enjoys a peaceful existence in Tangier, Morocco, embracing the rhythm of her city and daily life. That tranquility is shattered when her daughter, Clara, arrives from Madrid with startling news: she plans to sell the apartment Maria has called home for decades. Determined to remain in the place she loves, Maria embarks on a journey to save her home and reclaim a lifetime of memories – a journey that unexpectedly leads her to rediscover love and desire.
A Story Rooted in Personal Loss
The creation of “Rue Málaga” is deeply intertwined with Touzani’s personal history. The director experienced the sudden loss of her mother shortly before the release of “The Blue Caftan,” a grief that profoundly shaped her new film.
“My mother was from Tangier, just like me. It’s my hometown,” Touzani shared in a February 25 interview on the program Vertigo. “The film helped me to plunge back into my memories, to continue speaking the language I spoke with her, because my mother was too partly Spanish, to continue feeling the smells of the dishes she cooked for me, in short, to somehow make these memories eternal. And so it allowed me to return to Tangier and experience this city differently, through this absence, and to transform the pain I felt into joy of life.”
Aging as a Privilege
To bring the character of Maria to life, Touzani cast Carmen Maura, a celebrated icon of Spanish cinema and a frequent collaborator with Pedro Almodóvar. Having reviewed the script, Maura was immediately captivated by the story and the role. The film not only sees Maria resisting her daughter’s plans but also embracing life and her own femininity, leading to an unexpected and passionate romance.
>> A écouter, l’interview de Maryam Touzani et Carmen Maura dans Vertigo :
At 80 years old, Maura revealed that this is the first time she’s been asked to appear nude in a film. “I didn’t have any problems,” the Spanish actress said. “Maryam filmed the scenes in a very beautiful way and I received a lot of positive feedback from the public. Fifteen years ago, I don’t know if I would have dared, but now I don’t care about anything. It’s one of the advantages of age, you do things differently. You have a completely calm and simple vision of things.”
Propos recueillis par Anne Laure Gannac
Adaptation web: Sarah Clément
“Rue Málaga” directed by Maryam Touzani, starring Carmen Maura, Marta Etura, Ahmed Boulane. In theaters since February 25, 2026.
