Saimir, directed by Francesco Munzi, will be screened with English subtitles on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Erin Serracino Inglott Hall (Lecture Theatre 1). After the screening, a discussion will be held with film critic Marco Spagnoli.

The film revolves around the life of Albanian teenager Saimir who has known only the harsh life of poverty and illegality. His father makes a dangerous, meager living transporting illegal immigrants. Yet when even this fails to earn enough, the two are drawn into even more serious criminal human trafficking. A prostitution ring approaches Saimir's father who agrees to transport girls from Eastern Europe into virtual slavery and Saimir is forced to help his father. The boy, however, is living in his own secret world filled with the tender discovery of first love.

The screening is organised by Cinema Nuovo Italiano of Ragusa, Sicily, in collaboration with the University's Faculty of Arts, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Embassy, and St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, with the support of the Ufficio per le Relazioni Diplomatiche ed Internazionali della Presidenza della Regione Siciliana, as part of the project Così vicini così lontani: la Sicilia del sud est e Malta.

All staff and students are invited to attend. For more information, contact Gloria Lauri-Lucente on tel: 2340 2955 or e-mail gloria.lauri-lucente@um.edu.mt.