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Tradition

Luzzu – Moderity vs. Tradition

October 15, 2021 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

“Without a boat you lose your way.”

Is it possible to live in a rapidly changing world and stay true to the past? If we start giving up bits of our heritage, will there be anything left of it? Traditional ways of life compete with modernity in Alex Camilleri’s Luzzu.

On Malta, Jesmark (Jesmark Scicluna) fishes in the ways of his family for generations in a brightly colored luzzu boat. The boat was his father’s, and his father’s, and his father’s. Jesmark’s baby footprint is painted on the inside of the boat. He goes out fishing each day, but it is hard work with little payback—especially when trawlers are catching far more, but destroying the ecosystem in the process. When his boat develops a leak, he brings it ashore until he can replace the bad piece of wood.

But Jesmark is also a family man. His wife (Michela Farrugia) and infant son depend on him, and medical bills for the baby are beginning to grow. Jesmark could take a payout from the EU that wants to decrease the number of fishermen, but that would mean giving up fishing forever and destroying the boat. But Jesmark has also discovered the shady side of the fish market, and has begun to attach himself to the black market, moving illegal catches and other goods on and off the island.

Will this be the answer to his family’s needs? Will this move into modernity be an abandonment of past generations? Will it be selling a bit of his soul?

There is certainly a bit of romantic nostalgia about Jesmark’s attempt to live as his father and grandfather had done. It is heartbreaking to think of the beautiful luzzu being destroyed—not just because of its beauty, but because of all that it means to Jesmark.

But the world of his father and grandfather is long gone. Things have changed. It really doesn’t matter if things are better or worse because of the change, it is the reality. Those changes aren’t sudden, but they accumulate year by year by year.

The film concludes with a paraphrase of “the Ship of Theseus”, an ancient thought experiment that dates back to ancient Greece. If you replace the pieces of a boat one at a time, when everything has been replaced is it still the same boat? As we watch Jesmark working to replace the bad wood on his luzzu, we know that this is just the most recent of many repairs that he, his father, and grandfather must have made on that boat. Is that really the same boat as his ancestors fished in?

But even more, this is a story about life. As we see the world change piece by piece—as societies shift bit by bit—as families go through good and bad times—as individuals face new situations and needs—are they still the same person, family, society, or world as before?

These are questions and processes that we face often—it could be at work, in churches, in schools, in personal relationships. We may often feel the pain of loss about what once was. But perhaps we can also find a way to celebrate the continuity of things through the changes.

Luzzu is playing in select theaters.

Photos courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: black market, fishing, Malta, Tradition

Star Wars Episode V: Luke Strikes Out On His Own As The Empire Strikes Back

December 15, 2015 by Mark Sommer Leave a Comment

empirestrikesbackThe Empire Strikes Back begins on a seemingly dead ice planet, Hoth. The bleakness of the planet is contrasted with the warm relationship which has evolved among the four main protagonists. Although Leia is furious that Han is planning to leave, their conflict only thinly veils the affection between them. And even though she continues to spurn his advances, there is something more than friendship there, although the screenwriter keeps us guessing until Leia admits her love for Han just before he is incased in carbonite.

The affection of Han and Leia for Luke is seen in their concern for him as he goes missing. Later, we even see Chewbacca give Luke a hug when they are about to part from each other. The heartfelt friendship of these characters will play a huge part in what happens later.

In the first movie, Luke Skywalker makes his “first step into a larger world,” and also uses the Force to help destroy the Death Star. But he still has much to learn. Luke still relies too much on technology, which does not detect the wampa before it attacks him. If he had been more tuned into the Force, certainly he would have known the monster was there. Somehow he needs to get more training in the ways of the Force.

Step in Ben Kenobi from the great beyond.

In a scene reminiscent of revelatory visions and dreams in the Old Testament, Obi-Wan tells Luke he must go to the Dagobah system to be trained by Yoda. Luke still needs to recover, and will help slow the advance of the Empire troops so rebel transports can get away. But after the battle, Luke leaves his friends, not telling them where he is going, and surprising his faithful droid, R2D2.

Sometimes friends must be abandoned for a while – for the greater good.

empiredagobahIn contrast to Hoth, the Dagobah planet is teaming with life. But, except for his electronic companion, Luke is very much alone. Even after meeting Yoda, he is still virtually alone, as he must face “the trials” completely by himself.

When Luke arrives at the planet, Yoda doesn’t reveal himself at first. He wants to test Luke’s patience, and Luke fails miserably. Luke also still has many misconceptions to overcome, and needs to learn to live in the now. Yoda tells Obi-Wan,

“All his life has he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things.”

Turning to Luke, he adds, “You are reckless.”

Obi-Wan reminds Yoda how reckless he was. (We will see some of that in the prequels.) He convinces Yoda to train Luke, even though both Jedi Masters have misgivings about him, fearful he will become “like his father.” Here George Lucas is giving us a hint, much as a good mystery novel provides hints as the story progresses. But the shocker is we have no reason to believe Luke is being lied to; the information is being withheld that Darth Vader is actually his father. But this information, provided by Darth Vader himself, will be vital to the outcome of the next film, Return of the Jedi. Even the wisest of the Jedis cannot see all.

On the Star Wars Wiki website, the debacle surrounding the Battle of Galidraan is described. Count Dooku had been ordered by the Council to lead the battle. In an article I wrote for Examiner.com, just after the death of Christopher Lee, I commented how Lee’s character, “Count Dooku became Darth Tyranus, in part because of some lees-than-blameless actions ordered by the Jedi Council.” In the Examiner article, I compared Dooku’s betrayal to Anakin Skywalkers’:

“This is reminiscent of Anakin Skywalker being drawn to the Dark Side after being recruited to spy on the Emperor. We learn in the prequel films the Jedi Order was run by people with feet of clay. The power of the Force causes temptations for even the Light-Siders. Being one of the “good guys” doesn’t exempt people from questionable acts and decisions.”

That is not to say that the “good guys” were not trying to do their best to do what is right. But the Jedi Council, with its (over)emphasis on not being controlled by emotion, sometimes missed the mark when it comes to compassion. Almost like the Levite and the Priest in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, they limited what they were willing to be involved in.

Yoda is right to be cautious when he warns Luke about negative emotions: “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Luke’s father was led to the dark side because his deep love and compassion for his wife led to fear of the future. Yoda and Obi-Wan are right to be concerned Luke will follow the same path. But…

Sometimes the greater good must be risked when your friends are in need.

Luke knows that he has much to learn. And he will continue to learn even as he faces Vader in order to help his friends. As Vader acknowledges, “You have controlled your fear.” Luke doesn’t give in to his anger. He doesn’t use his hatred to try to destroy Vader. Even after he learns he was lied to about his father, he refuses to give in.

empire strikes back, duelWe live in an age where the old guardians of Christianity are being criticized perhaps more than ever before. And much of the criticism is justified. Christian leaders have made mistakes, many of them unforgivable. But if we look honestly at the history, most of the time the leaders of the faith were doing the best they could with the knowledge and wisdom available at the time. They were honestly seeking to follow God the best they knew how.

What is desperately needed today is the wisdom to know when we need to follow the guidance of those who have gone before, and when that guidance needs to be changed out of compassion for others. Tradition has great value, and we can learn much from the great teachers and theologians of the past. But sometimes there is wisdom in the younger generation that those holding on to traditionalism have missed. Just remember that the next generation will sit in judgment on this one, too. And beware lest our judgment of the past leads us to the dark side of the present.

Filed Under: DVD, Editorial, Film, News, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: Dagobah, Darth Vader, Dooku, Empire Strikes Back, Hoth, Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Tradition, Yoda

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