Luzzu | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alex Camilleri |
Written by | Alex Camilleri |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Léo Lefèvre |
Edited by | Alex Camilleri |
Production company | Memento Films International |
Distributed by |
Kino Lorber (United States) Peccadillo Pictures (United Kingdom) |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
Country | Malta |
Language | Maltese |
Box office | $39,948 [2] [3] |
Luzzu is a 2021 Maltese drama film written and directed by Alex Camilleri. [4] The film stars Jesmark Scicluna, Michela Farrugia and David Scicluna.
Luzzu had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2021. [5] It was selected as the Maltese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. [6]
To support his wife and child, a Maltese fisherman enters the world of black market fishing. [4]
The cast include: [7]
Luzzu had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2021 in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section. [5] [8] The following month, Kino Lorber acquired the US distribution rights to the film, while Peccadillo Pictures acquired the UK distribution rights. [9]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 98% based on reviews from 60 critics, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads, "Beautifully filmed and emotionally impactful, Luzzu uses one man's story to capture the struggles of a region at a cultural crossroads." [10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 16 critical reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [11]
Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante, writing for the Times of Malta, commended the film's story, cinematography, score, and sound design, as well as Scicluna's performance: "Sometimes a filmmaker needs to strike gold and some luck is usually needed. Jesmark Scicluna was Camilleri's strike." [12] He added, "Camilleri managed to create a story that resonates or is easily imaginable. Adding the fisheries industry into the background was a smart move as there are not enough films that reveal the world of traditional fisherman. [...] I find the making of a successful film is about reaching two goals. Does the film tell me something I did not know and does the film touch my heart? Luzzu managed to do both, easily." [12]
The New York Times' Natalia Winkelman praised Camilleri's direction, writing that he "demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how small moments can build a sense of place: sandals on the salty floor of a fishery; a metal scraper peeling paint from a hull; a priest blessing boats for safe passage. Malta's views are arresting, but the images Camilleri chooses would never be found in a travel brochure. In his subtle, vérité approach, he captures something special — not one man's crisis, but a community's culture." [13] Carlos Aguilar of the Los Angeles Times called the film a "terrific debut", lauding Scicluna's performance, as well as the cinematography and score. [14] He concluded that the film is "made vividly compelling in the hand of a new storyteller with classically honed sensibilities." [14]