'Carmen' Trailer: Natascha McElhone Stars As An '80s Church Lady Turned Wild Woman In Love

Set in Malta in the 1980s, veteran director and accomplished actor Valerie Buhagiar’s latest film outing “Carmen,” will focus on a woman finding a new start in life through romance. The titular character Carmen spends most of her life serving the church. However, when her brother passes, she realizes her own mortality and leaves her life behind to compensate for lost time.

Although a well-versed actor, Buhagiar is no stranger to the directing chair. Her first feature movies, “The Passion of Rita Camilleri” and “The Anniversary,” were acclaimed little indie. “Carmen” will be Buhagiar’s fourth feature as a director and will be available in both English and Maltese. 

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“Carmen” will star Natascha McElhone as lead protagonist Carmen, a 50-year-old woman rediscovering life. The British actress has played many roles over the years, most noticeably Lauren Garland in the Jim Carrey classic “The Truman Show.” You can see McElhone’s work in the current show “Halo,” where she plays Doctor Cathrine Halsey.

Michaela Farrugia and Steven Love will be joining McElhone in the feature. Love was recently featured in the Netflix series “Locke and Key.”

Here’s the official synopsis: 

In a small Mediterranean village, Carmen has looked after her brother, the local priest, for her entire life. When the Church abandons Carmen, she is mistaken for the new priest. Carmen begins to see the world, and herself, in a new light. In Malta, it is tradition for the younger sister to devote her life to the church when an older brother enters the priesthood. Inspired by true events, Carmen lives a life of servitude from the age of 16 until 50, when her brother dies. Realizing her own mortality, she leaves the church and makes up for lost time.

“Carmen” will be released in major cities around the U.S., including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, and Columbus. The film will also be released on VOD in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, September 23, 2022. Watch the new trailer below.