Gagga

I have just returned from a screening of the Maltese language movie IL-GAGGA. I had heard about this movie in 2002 when Mr. Azzopardi was in Malta promoting his movie Savage Messiah.

Those five years I waited to see IL-GAGGA have been well worth it. I wish to make it clear that I am in no way related to Mr.Azzopardi and I am writing this review because I strongly support Maltese talent.

If it's good material I have no hesitation whatsoever in writing a good review for it. Il Gagga does not fall under good material. It falls in the category of an excellent masterpiece. You think I'm exaggerating?Read on.

Imagine yourself as a student in the 1970's, with hardly any money in your pocket, but with a sincere and pure dedication in your heart to make a movie that criticizes the ignorance of the society you live in, and the influence the church has on the people.

36 years later now in the year 2007 these two topics still play a strong part in the Maltese society one way or another. Yes it's true that we Maltese today are more open-minded about a lot of things than we were 36 years ago, but being a small island where everyone knows everybody, our society still seems to be trapped in a cage on certain issues!

Il-Gagga manages to raise a lot of good points for discussion, and that's were the movie still holds its strength today. Shot on super 8 and now restored to make it look and sound better, the movie places you in the heart of the Maltese society as it was in the early 60's just before Malta became Independent.

Fredu is a trapped soul and an individual that refuses to stick to the saying if you can't beat them join them! Throughout the whole movie Fredu is traumatized in a society where his parents will not let him have the girl he loves because she is of another political belief, leaving the village to be with the girl will have the priest yelling scandal. All these thoughts and guilt drive him in a world of isolation that tears his soul apart.

If you are reading this review and asking yourself, what in the world is so scandalous about loving someone who does not have the same political belief as you? Please keep in mind that Malta was fanatical about politics and church much more than it is today. Although some people will disagree with me and say that we still are! Anything that was not of the norm in those days was considered to be a scandal to your family and to the village.

The direction is simply amazing two particular scenes will stick with you long after the credits roll,I refer to the the shot were Fredu is at home in the kitchen and has a hallucination. This particular shot is truly impressive along with the scene when Fredu is seeing many characters wearing carnival masks all ready to capture him and carry him to what looks like to be hell.

This is truly incredible cinema, to come out from a student. Back in the 70's I don't think the local cinemas showed any surreal movies or experimental works, so I truly think that Il- Gagga is a masterpiece in Maltese cinema.

Actors and actresses will act good or bad on the basis what the director tells them to do. I sincerely applaud Mr.Azzopardi for having a strong direction on the set of this movie, since Il-Gagga boasts some incredible acting from well known actors and actresses as well as other extras who give a realistic and rewarding acting performance. I am very much looking forward to seeing this masterpiece on DVD along with a commentary by Mr.Azzopardi and his views on this movie today. Let's hope we also get some interviews with the actors and actresses and people who worked on this movie included on the DVD. Well done Mr.Azzopardi you have truly made a movie that has stood the test of time and it deserves to be seen by everyone. 10/10