Simshar

Inspired by a tragic real-life event, Simshar is a gripping Maltese drama that tells the story of a fishing boat disaster that disrupts the lives of multiple families. Young Theo is sent on his first trip with his Maltese sea-faring family, but things go terribly wrong when the ship sinks, leaving the crew stranded in the Mediterranean. Simultaneously, Alex — a medic reluctantly dispatched onto a Turkish Merchant vessel which has rescued a group of stranded African boat people between Malta and Italy — gets stuck on the boat as the two countries wage a bureaucratic war over who should take in the migrants.

The film delves into themes of survival, human error, and the impact of migration across the Mediterranean Sea. Through intense storytelling and rich character development, Simshar sheds light on the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants and the emotional toll on their loved ones.

Filmmaker Rebecca Cremona will join for a discussion after the film.

Free admission! This event is supported by Institute for African Development, the Institute for European Studies, the Migrations Program, part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and the Mellon Foundation’s Just Futures Initiative.

Part of our "Migrations" film series. Courtesy of the filmmaker. In Maltese and English with English subtitles.