A father-son relationship caught in the political violence and social unrest of 1970s Malta is the subject of a short film entered into a number of international festivals.

The Maltese Fighter, a 20-minute production, is a Maltese-Canadian collaboration that provides a window into the island’s dark underbelly during that era.

The story follows fictitious boxer and single father Carmelo, played by Malcolm Ellul, whose dockyard day job is threatened after a new prime minister is elected.

Deft editing and a fictional cast of political players allows the film to tiptoe around the controversial subject matter without directly referencing any real figures.

Months of hard work culminated in shooting the film across Malta and using Valletta as the backdrop, giving a distinctly Maltese texture to the story.

Internationally acclaimed director Arev Manoukian lent his vision to the story alongside a Maltese crew. The production attracted cinema giants Spy Films, best known for Neil Blomkamp’s Alive in Joburg, which was developed into box office hit District 9 by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

Producer Joshua Cassar Gaspar said it was great to work with the extremely talented Mr Manoukian.

“He had a fresh vision on Malta, offering a different point of view,” he said. The movie is supported by the Malta Film Fund, Movie People Malta and River Dream.

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