Luzzu

"Luzzu" is a sensitive film, full of allegory, and a stupendous and extraordinary performance by Jesmark Scicluna as Jesmark, a many-generation Maltese fisherman who struggles to choose between his passion for the sea and his family in the land. The director manages to draw so much reality and emotions from both Jesmark Scicluna and Filip Sertic that their passion for fishing is very clear. The film is spectacular in showing the simplicity of fishermen against the underground fishing black market, the contradictions between tradition or falling into the unfair capitalist world, going after their dreams ("...a fish stays in a bowl never grows...' or family stability.

As one reviewer stated so well: "It's that kind of movies that say so much by saying almost nothing.".

As one reviewer stated so well: "It's that kind of movies that say so much by saying almost nothing.".

I also want to point out that the plot of this movie serves much to the current big film industry: How is it possible that a movie like this or the performance of the ensemble cast is ignored by the major award competitions????? Yeah!!!! Small and beautifully fish fighting against big sharks.

Malta's official submission to 2022's Oscars is beautiful, authentic, simple and emotional. Story is interesting and in a simple beautiful way it tackles powerful topics like sacrifice, tradition and family. It's that kind of movies that say so much by saying almost nothing. Lead performance is superb.

As a British expat. Living in Malta, this film gave a really good insight into the tensions between traditional Malta and the current fishing industry. Whilst it's setting was magnificent and showed off Malta, the story could have been anywhere where independent small business owners are drowing under a sea of bureaucratic red tape whilst the larger players merrily sidestep whatever the regulations are, secure in the knowledge that who they know/ pay, will ensure that any repercussions will be limited. Not so the little man, where the enforcement of often petty regulations are carried out with draconian fervour, largely because those charged with the task can only realistically catch the least powerful players.

The films is gritty and realistic, the acting powerful, the story line sad with a dark commentary on the effect of globalisation for us all.

Well worth watching.

It's quite a good drama, which, although gripping, reveals the main character's severe internal conflict.

The protagonist is a man named Zhesmark, a fisherman in his generation. The favorite occupation does not bring a high income, and the funds are not even enough for basic needs. And there is also a family - a woman and a small son, in whom doctors suspect a disease. A difficult life situation leads to tectonic shifts in his worldview.

The central character steps over himself, his beliefs and moral principles in order to earn the money needed for the family. He takes on any job, leaves his comfort zone and ends up where he shouldn't have gone.

Everything here works very well. Yes, the lead actor, in my humble opinion, is not too emotional and could have played better. Others simply did their job well.

The creative team managed to reveal the plot, convey the atmosphere of a society with canons and an ancient craft, which cannot adapt to modern realities and is doomed to decline.

Conclusion. Of course, this is a festival movie that not everyone will like. But it is really worth watching it once.

A sneak peek into Maltase coastline life.

Not a very engaging storyline, yet the freshness of location did make a difference.

With a feel of history, passion, family, business, money, corruption elements the movie is watchable.