Luzzu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlex Camilleri
Written byAlex Camilleri
Produced by
  • Rebecca Anastasi
  • Ramin Bahrani
  • Oliver Mallia
  • Alex Camilleri
Starring
  • Jesmark Scicluna
  • Michela Farrugia
  • David Scicluna
CinematographyLéo Lefèvre
Edited byAlex Camilleri
Production
company
Memento Films International
Distributed byKino Lorber
(United States)
Peccadillo Pictures
(United Kingdom)
Release date
  • January 29, 2021 (2021-01-29) (Sundance)
[1]
Running time
94 minutes
CountryMalta
LanguageMaltese
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]

Plot

To support his wife and child, a Maltese fisherman enters the world of black market fishing.[4]

Cast

The cast include:[7]

  • Jesmark Scicluna as Jesmark
  • Michela Farrugia as Denise
  • David Scicluna
  • Frida Cauchi
  • Uday McLean
  • Stephen Buhagiar

Release

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]

Reception

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]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Luzzu". Sundance. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Luzzu (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Luzzu (2021)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Keslassy, Elsa (December 16, 2020). "Sundance: Malta-Set 'Luzzu' Acquired by Memento Films International For World Sales (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Wiseman, Andreas (January 29, 2021). "'Luzzu': First Clip Of Sundance Film Festival Drama Sold By Memento, Ramin Bahrani Produces". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Luzzu selected as Maltals submission for Academy Awards". Newsbook. October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Luzzu". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Maltese film, 'Luzzu' premiering at the Sundance Film Festival". Times of Malta. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Berlin: Domestic Deals for Alex Camilleri's 'Luzzu,' Tracey Deer's 'Beans'". The Hollywood Reporter. March 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Luzzu". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Luzzu". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Scerri-Ferrante, Malcolm (June 28, 2022). "'Luzzu' raises the bar for Maltese film-making". Times of Malta. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ Winkelman, Natalia (October 14, 2021). "'Luzzu' Review: Capturing Culture on the Coasts of Malta". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Aguilar, Carlos (October 21, 2021). "Review: A triumph of classical storytelling, 'Luzzu' captures the struggles of a fisherman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
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