Dear Dom hits cinema on March 23

A preview of a documentary about former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff provoked a heartfelt reflection from Culture Minister Mario de Marco yesterday.

I hold absolutely no animosity towards those years and the personality, aptly described as Dear Dom- Mario de Marco

Dr de Marco admitted he never fully understood the relationship between Mr Mintoff and his late father, President Emeritus Guido de Marco, who, although rivals were also lifelong friends.

“My father nearly lost his life to celebrate Independence Day,” Dr de Marco said, recalling that a police constable had struck his father’s temple with a truncheon.

“But my father never uttered one word against the government or the personality behind it,” he said, close to tears.

Dr de Marco remembered having to sell cars during his University years because students were forced to work. He then found that he could no longer sell cars because Mr Mintoff put restrictions on licences.

“But that was the beauty of those years,” he said, with a sense of nostalgia.

“I spent years up at night hoping and praying that my house would not be attacked. But I hold absolutely no animosity towards those years and the personality, aptly described as Dear Dom.”

The film does an “excellent” job of showing Mr Mintoff as a person who fought to bring about change and then resisting the change he inspired, Dr de Marco said.

“I still ask myself what led to Mintoff resigning in 1984? Why did he proceed with discussions about constitutional amendments? Was Mintoff trying to come to terms with what happened?”

Dr de Marco said the film reflected society’s coming of age, even though the country was still divided on Mr Mintoff.

“As always, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle,” he said. One could not ignore Malta’s progress at the time or forget those who were left scarred, many of whom are still trying to pick up the pieces.

The documentary, which will be screened exclusively at Eden Century Cinemas from March 23, is a 67-minute-long feature tracking the major milestones in Mr Mintoff’s life.

The documentary received a warm response and also elicited laughter at various points.

Among the guests at St James Cavalier were philosopher Joe Friggieri, historian Henry Frendo, cartoonist Maurice Tanti Burlò, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Edgar Galea Curmi, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Opposition culture spokesman Owen Bonnici.