Valletta cinema operator accused of screening pornographic films

joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Jan 5th 2010, 05:59

It is quite incredible that in Malta adults are not allowed to decide for themselves what they should see and, for that matter, do. Did any prime minister past and present not know of its existence? Or do they think Maltese and Gozitans still live in a convent. Decriminalise the pornography here and now and let the goverment attend to matters of national importance such as jobs, the economy and the increasing cost of living. Leave morality to the Gods (and I mean Gods because there are quite a few doing the rounds) and to those who claim to be his or her or its representatives.

b briffa

Jul 30th 2009, 23:26

It is a pity that this cinema has closed. Having been a few times, the collection of videos, must be impressive. The historic movies must be worth a fortune. Will they be auctioned?

Joseph Schembri

Jul 26th 2009, 10:13

@P. Schembri: You are right it was a Giov Demartino who some weeks ago wrote here to complain about City Lights Cinema. If it has been in operation for 30 years we are indeed in a sad state if the Police (or maybe, as I suspect, some one higher up) listen to the ramblings of such a man and ignore the fact that in a free society adults are free to watch whatever they want.

That gent will soon be campaigning to censor the internet. It all starts with censoring porn and then it is downhill all the way for democracy.

smifsud

Jul 25th 2009, 18:21

ooh please leave this man alone ..he has done nothing wrong ...Malta is a joke ....we need to rethink where we are heading with a such a small country with to many RULES and to many people and to many cars and finally with Malta "used" to be ghall Maltin but now its been sold to the highest bidder ...what a shame .....

J. willingern

Jul 25th 2009, 18:04

Reading the article i can only say that Malta has advanced in some areas but a minority of its inhabitants and their dry humour and mentality has stood still for the past 2000 odd years., Silly really there is no cause for it at all in this daying age when people are only responsible for their own self within the law, but i'm afraid in this case its sounds like the chinese latest laws, i just wonder if telephones a tapped and people are listening, i even heared once on the Dutch news that although webcams are used on a daily bases , there too can be tapped. Big Bro. is watching nothing is private anymore, i am Dutch and if this sort of thing happens in Holland there will be a riot as the freedom of people is honoured in my country, but in Malta you guys are living in a world of your own and not quite grasp the meaning of democracy, but as they say when in Rome do as the Romans do and abide by the law, i guess the next thing would be for the women to cover themselves from head to tail.

P. Schembri

Jul 25th 2009, 15:09

I remember, a few weeks (days?) ago, Giov. DeMartino talking here about this cinema, and if I'm not mistaken even implored the Justice Minister to take action. If this is the case, then Malta is really in a deplorable state. I'm not in favour of pornography, but I'm in favour in the freedom of expression. We're supposed to be in the 21st Century, but by the looks of it we're still in the early 19th century, where pornography was abhorred. Maybe the holier-than-thou gentleman who was here with us, can enlighten us on how he managed to close the oldest (in recent entertainment history) cinema in Malta. We know that Mr. DeMartino has some clout in the PN, but on the Government???!!!!!

Brad.Navarro.

Jul 25th 2009, 13:51

Its not my place to stick my nose into Maltese affairs but as free man living in a free country such as Canada, i can only applaud this 67 year old man who zest with life,active and hasen't given up with hectic stressful life its more then i can say for some morons with an attitude of the Taliban. From Toronto i say three cheers to this Guy i wish when i am 65 i might not be able to raise a smile let alone anthing else. From Canada

Patrick Beasly

Jul 25th 2009, 13:20

Just as a matter of interest i wonder if they have a condom machine installed in the gents?just being nosey i guess

v.pulis

Jul 25th 2009, 12:48

If this episode served for nothing at least the picture accompanying the article highlights the deplorable state some otherwise splendid facades in Valletta are in. There are hundreds of other buildings in the same state throughout the city built by gentlemen and maintained by morons.

Stefan Aquilina

Jul 25th 2009, 12:46

What a shame that the City lights are out. I guess this comes as a relief to some and a tosser to others. The only little red light building on the island has disappeared paving its way to an internet based pornographic industry, which lets face it is handy to many. I hope that someone will document this so called seedy but facinating underworld of this historical cinema, it is part of Valetta`s 20th century account. Mr Baldacchino was harged with screeing pornographic material but he had been doing so for the last 30 years or so. What prompted the police around the block to close in on City lights now?

Jeff Mead

Jul 25th 2009, 12:33

This is a big farce in Malta or as they say Only in Malta, i still remeber when i was stationed in Malta in the early 60's and talking about Valletta at the time i was only an ordinary seaman or a matloe i can still remember those fantastic days when we had shore leave and the first port of call was cause i was then young free and single love them and leave them sort of attitude, Straight street in Valletta comes to mind,& its no different then this old cinema above, so who is breaking the law now then squires? any bright answers.. or is the money running out through lack of tourists maybe we should recall the Navy days for those old enough to remember thegood old days. still i loved Malta and still do. Jeff Mead ex-RN

H. Mifsud

Jul 25th 2009, 12:26

At loooooong last, the Authorities have seen the light - City Lights - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Robert Callus

Jul 25th 2009, 11:26

As long as children neither participated or were made to watch the movies, this is nothing more than 'Big Brother decides what you watch and hear.'

Apart from that, the courts have a lot of serious business to do, with for example the escalating problem of domestic violence. Where are the priorities?

Ramon Casha

Jul 25th 2009, 10:40

Actually I believe that City Lights is by far the oldest cinema in the country. Surely the police have better things to do than waste their time on frivolous pursuits?

Galea. L

Jul 25th 2009, 10:39

I certainly don't watch pornographic videos, but who is big brother to tell me what to see?
As someone else said, you can watch and see anything on the internet.

v.pulis

Jul 25th 2009, 10:27

This cinema has been known to screen such films for many years. Now, in the age of the internet, where one can download anything, the police have taken action.
What amazes me is how this cinema did not die a natural death!! Another case of Only in Malta.

Joseph Micallef

Jul 25th 2009, 09:31

How funny this country works! After letting the cinema operate for years on end (it already had a reputation for screening porn during my teenage), now the authorities suddenly woke up and had it shut down! As if the kind of films shown in that cinema was not common knowledge! Or maybe the authorities live in another planet! Who knows maybe now they will shut down the internet as well!