Award winning heart rending Maltese movie “Simshar” (2014), directed by Rebecca Cremona and starring Lotfi Abdelli, Clare Agius, Jimi Busuttil, Adrian Farrugia among others.

It is based on the true story of the Simshar incident when the boat Simshar had a fire and a blast while out on a fishing trip in the Mediterranean and went under. The four people on board were Simon (Lotfi Abdelli), his father Jimi Busuttil, son Theo (Adrian Farrugia) and a Somalian Sékouba Doucouré.

The father is the first one to go under the waters, after a few days they espy a fishing boat but that boat turns away when they see through the binoculars only the Somalian waving at the them. They thought he has a migrant looking for a refuge.

While the coast guard launches a rescue mission and fails to find them, the local fishermen set out to locate the father and son. Meanwhile the mother Clare Agius is distraught at the news and the disappearance, fearing the worst.

Malta is an island between the African coast and Italy with several thousands coming via boat to Italy and some finding their way into Malta. There are many thousands of them who perish by the sea.

Rebecca Cremona has done a superb job recreating the actual incident. The background music is haunting and of the cast, everybody has done a decent job. IMDB 5/10