Luzzu

Writer-director Alex Camilleri’s powerful neorealist drama is a rare home-grown Maltese production.

Self-employed fisherman Jesmark is struggling to make ends meet in an increasingly challenging profession. With a wife and young baby to support, Jesmark finds himself in constant battle against legislation and the giant commercial trawlers that dominate the sea. Determined to maintain his independence, but with mounting financial pressures at home, Jesmark sees no way out of his situation - until he turns to more risky means. Taking its name from the brightly coloured, traditional Maltese fishing boats, Luzzu is both an intimate and affecting character study – driven by a commanding performance by non-professional actor and fisher by trade, Jesmark Scicluna – and a soulful lament at the loss of cultural tradition in the face of political progress.

Selected as Malta's entry for the 94th Academy Awards, the film also picked up a Special Jury Award at Sundance for Scicluna's acting.