Luzzu (film)

Last updated

Luzzu
Luzzu poster.jpg
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 by Kino 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.

Contents

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]

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

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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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