‘Stories Revisited’: A nostalgic portrait of growing up in Malta

Remember the smell of freshly baked Ħobż tal-Maltin wafting through the air as you walked home from school? Or the echo of your laughter bouncing off the ancient walls of Mdina’s silent streets? These are the memories that Malta’s own, Maltese Moments, is bringing back to life through their latest project, ‘Stories Revisited’.

Revisiting the Past, One Story at a Time

‘Stories Revisited’ is a collection of short films that look the everyday life of Malta in the 1970s and 1980s. Each film is a snapshot of a different aspect of Maltese life, from the simple joy of playing in the street to the resilience of the island’s people during tough times.

The project is the brainchild of Maltese filmmakers, Stephen Azzopardi and Marcus Grimaldi. They grew up hearing their parents’ stories about life in Malta before they were born, and wanted to share these tales with a new generation.

From the Streets of Birkirkara to the Docks of Marsaxlokk

The films in ‘Stories Revisited’ take viewers on a journey through time and across the island. One film, ‘The Street’, follows a group of children as they play in the narrow streets of Birkirkara. Another, ‘The Fisherman’, tells the story of a day in the life of a Marsaxlokk fisherman, from the early morning catch to the late-night sale at the market.

Each film is a love letter to a different aspect of Maltese life, capturing the essence of what it meant to grow up in Malta during these decades. They’re not just about nostalgia, though. They’re also a reminder of how much the island has changed, and how much it has stayed the same.

Preserving Malta’s Past for the Future

‘Stories Revisited’ is more than just a collection of films. It’s a preservation project, aiming to capture and share the memories of Malta’s older generation before they’re lost to time. The filmmakers have been collecting stories from all over the island, from people of all walks of life.

But they need your help. If you have memories of growing up in Malta in the 1970s or 1980s, they want to hear from you. You can share your stories on their website, or on their social media pages. Who knows? Your story might be the next one they bring to life on screen.

So, what are you waiting for? Dust off those old memories, and let’s revisit the stories that shaped us. Because, as Stephen Azzopardi puts it, “These stories are not just about the past. They’re about who we are, and who we’re becoming.”