Carmen & Bolude

Carmen and Bolude is a fun movie but carries a strong message. There are engaging characters and especially strong female leads. There are lots of laugh out loud moments and some tears. All the feels in one digestible package with some lingering messages to think about.

Those lingering messages are explored around cross cultural relationships and identity in an adventure that includes New York, Sydney and some spectacular NSW sites. The "family dinner" scene is one many will relate too with a level of discomfort that is tangible, squirmy but cleverly, funny. Everyone who has ever felt unseen or not quite sure of who they were will identify.

This film captures a search for identity under the guise of getting married. The lead characters find themselves, and acceptance, while following a trail of love and hope and new beginnings.

Insights are provided by random people from different cultural backgrounds who find themselves and provide guidance for knowing yourself.

Love, friendship, and family are woven together and provide a rich backdrop for acceptance. Knowing who you are and who you want to be are so wrapped up in cultural differences which end up demonstrating the similarities.

Such a beautiful and heartfelt movie, with laughs, tears, and everything in between.

Carmen & Bolude is a charming and thought-provoking romantic comedy that seamlessly blends humor with deep cultural insights. The film shines through its effortlessly engaging characters, led by the captivating performances of Michela Carattini and Bolude Watson, whose chemistry and comedic timing create a dynamic relationship that feels both fresh and authentic. Liam Greinke and Elliott Giarola also impress as the male leads, adding heart and charm to the story. Visually stunning, with Calum Stewart's beautiful cinematography, and enhanced by a vibrant soundtrack, the film offers an unforgettable cinematic experience.

The supporting cast is equally remarkable, with standout performances from Olivia Vasquez, Oscar Leal, Will Rodriguez, and Latin Australian reggaeton star Danny Pryp. African Australian stars, like Bolude Watson and Suzan Mutesi, bring captivating energy, while Wale Ojo delivers an unforgettable portrayal of a typical African father. A particularly poignant moment comes from the Aboriginal Aunty, whose emotional performance anchors the film in history, highlighting the lingering effects of cultural heritage, with the powerful line, "You have Aboriginal in you," reminding us of the lasting influence of ethnicity across generations.

Directed by Michela Carattini and Maria Isabel Delaossa, Carmen & Bolude is a brilliant celebration of love, culture, and identity. The film explores the fluidity of race and belonging, with a standout scene addressing the experience of Italian Australians. With extraordinary work from producer Yolandi Franken, this film blends humor, heart, and cultural depth, making it a must-watch. Don't miss the chance to experience this heartfelt and entertaining story - screenings can be found on the film's socials @carmenandbolude.

Still thinking about this movie now, weeks after I watched it.

Did I love it because I have always struggled with my identity a bit? Did I love it because my friend co-created it?

I loved it because it's just a really great, complex movie that gets into hard topics with a tonne of humour, lovable characters, great locations and a sense of warmth that wraps around you like your favourite old jumper - full of memories and impossible to live without.

What really stayed with me was how effortlessly the film moved between laugh-out-loud absurdity and these beautifully vulnerable moments. It never felt preachy, never tried to teach you anything outright - but somehow you left feeling a little more open, a little more seen.

Carmen and Bolude's friendship is the kind of movie relationship I love: messy, hilarious and real. There's something so powerful about seeing two women - each from wildly different cultural backgrounds - lean into each other's chaos.

And let's talk about the '100 Welcomes' moment. What could have easily become a gimmick turns out to be one of the most joyful sequences I've seen on screen. Not just because it's heartwarming, but because it shows what belonging can look like - strange, stitched-together, sometimes awkward but fully human.

I also think this is the kind of story that will land somewhere inside anyone who's ever felt between places, between expectations or between versions of themselves.

More like this, please. Xx.

Carmen & Bolude is definitely something worth watching.

The background stories are warm and heartfelt but so naturally funny that you can't help laughing out loud.

The main story line touches on so many different but fundamental emotions and gently nudges you to look at the way we all interact and how much our lives revolve around who we think we are and what we think we are.

The humor is a mix of subtlety and bluntness but is never just for the sake of a laugh, it always reminds you that these are real people not plastic characters.

Carmen & Bolude is so very different to the repetitive, cookie cutter, mainstream movies because it is a real story, all of the characters are slightly damaged and slightly off kilter but so very human.