Amman, June 21 – The Cinema Committee at Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation will screen the Maltese film “Luzzu” by director Alex Camilleri this Tuesday. Screenings will take place at 6:30 PM in the cinema hall and at 8:00 PM outdoors at the Foundation’s headquarters in Jabal Amman.

“Luzzu” is the debut feature by Maltese-American director Alex Camilleri. The film presents a powerful and authentic portrayal of working-class life through the struggles of Dennis, a Maltese fisherman forced to abandon his family’s traditional trade due to mounting economic pressures and European Union regulations on seasonal fishing.

Dennis is married to Michela, the daughter of a wealthy and influential woman. Despite her mother’s opposition, Michela—who works in a shop—chooses to build a life with her husband. Their situation worsens when their infant son is diagnosed with a condition requiring intensive medical treatment. With limited options, Dennis turns to illegal work with a corrupt fish dealer who operates in the black market after he is compelled to give up his boat to the European Union in exchange for minimal compensation. A striking scene shows Dennis dragging his boat to a “graveyard” where fishing vessels are destroyed.

The fishing boat itself serves as a powerful symbolic presence in the film—an inherited vessel gradually falling into disrepair. Although Dennis manages to fix it, he ultimately loses it, mirroring his moral compromise when he begins working with the corrupt trader.
Through this narrative, the film critiques the broader economic and regulatory pressures affecting vulnerable communities, highlighting how rigid policies can disproportionately impact ordinary people.

Shot in a docudrama style, the film features a real fisherman in the lead role, delivering a natural and understated performance that enhances its realism. Beyond Dennis’s personal story, “Luzzu” offers insight into Malta’s socio-economic landscape through the lens of his family.

While simple in its premise, the film gains depth through its details and supporting characters, presenting a nuanced, human-centered portrayal that condemns circumstances rather than individuals.