Luzzu
Jesmark, a struggling fisherman on the island of Malta, must make an agonising choice: repair his leaking luzzu – the traditional wooden fishing boat that has been in his family for generations – or decommission it in exchange for a government pay-out. Faced with the temptation of making easy money working for a black-market fishing operation, Jesmark must reconcile his desire to preserve tradition with the need to provide for his young family. The award-winning and critically acclaimed debut of writer-director Alex Camilleri recalls the neorealist traditions of Luchino Visconti, Roberto Rossellini and Ramin Bahrani, and offers a glimpse into the beauty of an island rarely portrayed in cinema.
Cast
Jesmark Scicluna (Jesmark) , David Scicluna (David) , Michela Farrugia (Denise)
Director
Producer
Language
Maltese
Subtitles
English
Country
Malta
Studio
Peccadillo Pictures
Bonus Content
Interview with Writer/Director Alex Camilleri – Fishing Tales
7mPeccadillo Pictures sits down with Writer/Director Alex Camilleri to discuss his experiences with filming in the Mediterranean Sea for LUZZU.
Interview with Writer/Director Alex Camilleri – Inspiration
12mWriter/Director Alex Camilleri talks about his decision to film in Malta and to tell a truly Maltese story.
Screen Test: Lampuki
3mFootage taken by director Alex Camilleri in Summer 2018 as he accompanies Jesmark and David Scicluna on a 24-hour fishing trip to harvest lampuki (dorado, or mahi-mahi).
Screen Test: Slipway
1mDirector Alex Camilleri documents the fishermen working together to pull Jesmark’s family boat ‘Ta Palma’ onto land to protect it from a storm. Shot in Fall 2018 in Ghar Lapsi, the small bay from which Jesmark and David fish.
Jesmark Scicluna Screen Test
2mJesmark and David Scicluna’s improvised screen test from the day they met Director Alex Camilleri.