Visiting Charlie Cauchi’s latest exhibition “Backlot” at Spazju Kreattiv today made me reflect on foggy childhood memories somehow related to Malta and movies. This exhibition was very Charlie – remix, mixed media, video installations, playing with perspectives, political, reframing. You should visit it if you’ve got a chance.
Back to those memories – which in their own way framed the way I experienced the exhibition:
- Sitting on the carpet – or a sofa – possibly near Tushka (a dog) – watching Pulp (1972) on Nannu’s TV in his new house. He might have been on his armchair directly in front of the TV – or standing at the door between the sitting room and kitchen. At some point in the movie he probably would have lit a cigarette or two.
Did he pause the movie to tell us about the behind the scenes? Or did he just narrate his memories over the narrative? “This is important…” he might have said. Or “Pay attention to what is happening in this scene…”
“Mum, what stories did Nannu tell us about the film ‘Pulp’?”
“About the bed we had at Marsascala and then in Balzan?”
“Yes something about a bed.”
“Yes they used an old iron bed in the film and then Nannu kept it. The film was a bit scandalous for Malta in the 70s. I have Michael Caine’s autograph, he was staying at the Hilton and we went there.” - A photo of ? posing in front of a dead great white hanging from a crane. “It was the biggest one ever caught in Malta”.
- Visiting the set of Gladiator (2000). Was it a school trip? A Stagecoach trip? A family trip? The dusty floors supporting the temples and buildings constructed to emulate ancient Rome.
- Finally watching Popeye (1980) and remaining severely disappointed.
- Staying up late at a sleep over with some cousins, watching Midnight Express (1978) with James. Probably not age appropriate. “Malta as Turkey” – Maltese as Turkish.
Image: Charlie Cauchi’s reflections on Pulp and Midnight Express.
There were also some contemporary memories – being on set at the video village, hanging out with DITs. Realising the enormous amount of waste generated through packed lunches, coffee cups, water bottles.
Malta as Mediterranean
Additionally, Charlie’s video work (see excerpt below) which highlighted Malta as a location that stands in as other Mediterranean countries, brought me to the now and an advertising campaign of the Mediterrane film festival taking place in a few weeks.
In particular one billboard which I saw near San Ġwann’s industrial estate area. Captured below at night, through a dirty windscreen. “L-istess Valuri. Aħna Ewropej” (The same values. We’re European).
Wait, say that again? A film festival called “Mediterrane” erasing more than half the Mediterranean with 4 words? Including the erasure of one aspect of our culture that makes us Maltese – our language? That draws roots from across these seas, in particularly as a semitic language, and allows us to shakily communicate with our North African colleagues? The copywriting could have done with some sensitivity reading.
MJ Tolu 
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