The Life of Brian
Published:
February 10, 2009 at 9:14pm
Who’s watching the (political) life story of Dom Mintoff on TVM? I missed the first bit, last week. Now I’m watching the second.
25 Comments Comment
Reply to kev Click here to cancel reply
…. not as objective as it should be but Biografiji is a good show – at last!
…and what about his coup de grace? Saving Malta from Alfred Sant and ensuring we entered the EU?
Saint Mintoff! Sigh!
WE do the Biografiji series pretty well.
It is of course biased to show the better parts of Dom Mintoff, however nobody can dispute that he played a major part in 20th century politics – in good and bad. I was surprised that he did actually admit in his last parliamentary speech in 1998 that he was wrong in the way he treated Paul Boffa in the 40s and 50s (this wasn’t mentioned in the programme). It’s unlikely they will do a program on KMB – now that would be a travesty.
[Daphne – I missed the first part, so I’ll give that the benefit of the doubt. But this bit I just watched was complete bollocks. What sort of biography concentrates only on a person’s career and leaves out his personal life? I’ve never read or watched one of those. Maybe that part was what I missed, but somehow, I doubt it. And even the career focus was rubbish. It bore no resemblance to reality and did absolutely nothing to convey the atmosphere of the times. If it were a written biography, as opposed to a broadcast one, it would have been one of those CVs that people send out for job applications. “Nharaq l-istamperija tat-Tajms”….and on the screen, we don’t get a single picture of the burnt building, the fall-out, or even that famous The Times front page of the following morning. “Kissru d-dar tal-mexxej tal-Oppozizzjoni” – and on the screen, we get some sticks of furniture strewn about a floor, which could be anywhere and anyone’s. Dead, dull, lifeless and b-o-r-i-n-g, and all half-truths. And that’s just how I would wish it to be, because the man deserves nothing more than that kind of half-assed ‘biography’, featuring, of all people, Wenzu Mintoff, Guido, KMB, and Reno il-Colonna tal-Partit. Oh, and Joe Grima, too. Next week: Johnny Navarro…yes, really.]
… what about the terrorisation of individuals; the removal of the right to industrial action (vide Cable & Wireless, Mid Med, doctors); quasi-closure of University; record unemployment and Pijuneri/dirghajn il-Maltin; Church schools dispute; requisition orders; bulk buying; ban on importation etc etc etc?
Love him or hate him, at least the man is real, unlike the pretentious, cocky type we have today.
[Daphne – The trouble, sweetheart, is that both of them are real and one of them is coming at us.]
I would have thought Peppi Azzopardi could have got some decent personalities to analyse Mintoff, the despot and dictator to boot. Instead we were regaled mostly with a bunch of losers. I must say i was disappointed to hear the ex-president take so much credit for ridding the nation of this horrible little man.
[Daphne – The ex-president’s main mission of the last 30-odd years has been to take credit for all the major political decisions, leaving Eddie Fenech Adami, whom he never forgave for ‘taking’ the party leadership, out of the equation. I’ll never forget being at a mass meeting in Haz-Zebbug before the general election in 1998, and inadvertently being exposed to the embarrassing spectacle of the man’s wife and daughters emerging dramatically onto the balcony immediately above me as soon as he began speaking, then flouncing inside and slamming the doors tightly shut as soon as he finished and the party leader opened with the words ‘Huti Maltin u Ghawdxin’. U ma jisthux.]
yep. but history has its own way of telling the truth.
Oh and by the way, Peppi, this programme cost you a lot of brownie points. You could have sourced enough material to make an epic, and not the load of rubbish you tried to feed us. The worst message you tried to convey, though, was that this wierdo of a man ”loved” Malta, and the ”fqir”. Shall I tell you what he did? He EXPLOITED the fqir, and kept him ignorant. He restricted the university population to about 800 (he must be having nightmares these days knowing there are now 10,000 students) because he did not want any individual to see the light. He victimised people, instigated severe violence, allowed rampant corruption to ensure he remained in power, and surrounded himself with thugs, many of whom are still around us. And no Lino Spiteri’s or his like is ever going to be forgiven for screwing up what could have been the best 16 years of many people’s lives, regardless of their ”now with hindsight” opinions. How could history or indeed Demarco ever be anywhere near kind with this vile man? If there is one thing that Peppi’s programme did tonight, it was to remind most of us that we should be thanking our lucky stars for where we stand as a nation today, regardless of a few dubious characters we are unfortunately lumbered with on the government side. And with that off my chest, goodnight all.
I had a row with my 12-year-old son because I didn’t want him to watch the programme and get a totally twisted idea of what went on in those years. We never discuss politics at home and this programme was his first ‘encounter’ with Mintoff. I switched channels just after Maria Camilleri was gushing forth about how happy Mintoff was with the ħelsien “ferħan qisu tifel żgħir” (xi ħlew) and while Peppi was dramatically stating that Mintoff “dejjem ried il-ħelsien ta’ Malta u fl-aħħar wasal” or words to that effect. At least I managed not to puke.
[Daphne – You should discuss politics at home, Antoine. My experience of people who grew up in homes where politics was off the conversation menu is that they remain unconscionably naive even into late adulthood. Their political thinking and perspective don’t develop properly, and their approach to politics remains largely theoretical. They read too much into labels like ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ and tend to take what’s said at face value because they are unable to put it into context. Also, the sooner you get your children talking about current events, the better. They’re not going to get this kind of thing at school, and it’s what will set them apart from the rest by the time they get to sixth form and university. I speak from experience. Too much emphasis is placed on competing in examinations, but nobody is going to look at your O-level results ever again after you get to sixth form, and nobody is going to look at your A-level results ever again when you get to university. Too many parents miss that point and get their children to miss it, too. They don’t realise until it’s way too late that it’s the other things that count: general knowledge, current affairs, the ability to talk about anything and everything, awareness as to what is happening in the world, latest developments, etc etc. Get that 12-year-old started, Antoine.]
Yes very good let him remain stupid about what really went on in our country!! He wasnt perfect and made a lot of mistakes but admit he also did a lot of good! Its thanks to who that your son goes to school? Im certain that if you are lucky to recieve your pension you are going apply or because Mintoff did it you aren’t? and im sure you never cashed your children’s allowance! So yes deprive your son from the truth!! Let him believe what you want him to believe and never teach him the truth! Although from your stament above you have your own truth.
I didn’t see the programme, but seeing the posts here, it seems to be a monumental cock-up, a rehabilitation almost, of the man who ruined so many lives and sent so many people to an early grave. As we say in Maltese, qatilhom bl-inkwiet. He almost ruined mine as well. Shall we produce another programme as to what really happened to all those who suffered under Mintoff?
As for Peppi, what is he trying to do? Take out some insurance?
RetroSpection(s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcdM2aTM3pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkA3sqBcroY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZW6QZSGgyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXvW0jkxhFc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXnxM-DAFik
@Tony Pace
It’s hard work to get a good film done. There ARE passionate producers around.
Ma riedx lil ibnu ta’ 12-il sena jkompli jara d-dokumentarju dwar Mintoff! Now isn’t that a sordid thing to do? Poor kid.
Daphne wrote: “They’re not going to get this kind of thing at school, and it’s what will set them apart from the rest by the time they get to sixth form and university. I speak from experience. Too much emphasis is placed on competing in examinations, but nobody is going to look at your O-level results ever again after you get to sixth form, and nobody is going to look at your A-level results ever again when you get to university. Too many parents miss that point and get their children to miss it, too. They don’t realise until it’s way too late that it’s the other things that count: general knowledge, current affairs, the ability to talk about anything and everything, awareness as to what is happening in the world, latest developments, etc etc. Get that 12-year-old started, Antoine.”
I agree 100%. I’ve been at interviews and the last thing they see is your O and A levels. They see your ability to communicate, plan ahead, create and innovate.
With regards to Mintoff….
Not even nature could beat him! Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Ghidu li tridu, imma ghalijja u ghal hafna Maltin, huwa patrijott ta’ veru.
Didn’t anyone notice the soundtrack taken from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe? I mean come on, how utterly ridiculous.
[Daphne – More so if permission wasn’t sought and royalties not paid.]
The last part of the programme just about summed him up – constantly inciting “il-haddiema” against those whom he will despise to the end of his bitter days: “min ghandu, u/jew min hu ahjar minnu”.
His words in that speech were, more or less: “Iggilidna kontra l-gvern Ingliz, iggillidna kontra …, iggilidna kontra MIN JOBGHOD IL-HADDIEMA” (Amid loud cheers, naturally.)
U min jobghod il-haddiema? Min jimpjeghom? If the ones I know are anything to go by, then my oh my, how wrong he is! He was the one “li kien jobghod il-haddiema”, for keeping them ignorant and feeding them the only rubbish they knew, both literally and figuratively.
And then there are those who still drool when they see him….
[Daphne – More so if permission wasn’t sought and royalties not paid.]
I must admit that I have also, inadvertently, not sought permission from WE, and I have paid no royalties, but Peppi and Lou can see my name and be grateful for the PR, which I provide them with.
[Daphne – That’s completely different. You can’t just pick a soundtrack and use it for your own production purposes, just as you can’t take one of my articles and use it elsewhere.]
Well just to jog your memories, if you are old enough, do you remember we could not trasspass at the Marsa tal-Inglizi because it belonged to the British, or being called idiotic Maltese, did any of you have a relative working as a maid to the English lazy women. Mintoff with all his faults gave the Maltese their dignity, the only mistake Mintoff did, was, the same that is happening today no one wants to leave their bloody seat until rooths come out from under them, and one foot is in their grave. Learn to respect history no person is all bad.
[Daphne – Ahem. I can’t trespass at the Marsa Club today, either, because I’m not a member. Now as then, it is irrelevant to me because trespassing at the Marsa has never been on the list of things I must do before I die. You mean there are no idiotic Maltese? Check out http://www.timesofmalta.com‘s comments board. My maid is Maltese. It doesn’t follow that I’m lazy. No, Mintoff took away people’s dignity. Dignity came in the post-1987 years, with education, work and opportunities for all within a democratic environment. You are quite out of your mind to say that the very man who trampled on the human rights of the Maltese was the one who gave us dignity. You cannot have dignity without fundamental human rights. I do respect history. I am academically trained to do so.]
kev
“Ma riedx lil ibnu ta’ 12-il sena jkompli jara d-dokumentarju dwar Mintoff! Now isn’t that a sordid thing to do? Poor kid”
I’m glad you think so. If you disapprove it means I’m on the right track. Would be worrying otherwise.
Waylon
“Didn’t anyone notice the soundtrack taken from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe? “
My son recognised the music (he has a better ear than I have). I think he said it’s been used for other programmes in the series.
Daphne
I guess you’re right about discussing politics with him. I wanted to let him and his much older brother form their own opinions without being influenced by mine but the truth is that nobody can truly do so freely and autonomously. There are too many loaded political messages everywhere you look, some of them aimed specifically at children and young teenagers. If Joseph Muscat had his way, a child who is still 12 today would be voting in the next elections.
[Daphne – That’s completely different……..]
Retrospectively, I should actually not share your opinion in toto.
I have provided links to YouTube clips from a programme produced by WE. The legal warnings on YouTube are comprehensible. What would be, what is, the legal standing when users of this blog post on this blog excerpts of articles, or remarks, published elsewhere? Would such behaviour not be analogous to one using excerpts from your articles “elsewhere”? I watched the WE programme live and I could not win the impression that WE used a complete soundtrack for their production. Unfortunately, the respective programme is not available on demand (as far as I can see).
[Daphne – Nope, it’s not at all the same. There are laws on performing rights which specifically cover music, and laws on copyright which specifically cover republication in print.]
RE royalties
Another example for certain people thinking they can get everything for free. A producer should know about the existence of copyright, in his/her own interest as well.
Amanda Mallia wrote: “And then there are those who still drool when they see him…”.
Ms.Mallia, so are the ways of the world, the ways of life. See it, and humbly acknowledge it, as a reflection of the personal freedom of “those”, to whom you refer. “Those” would most probably react by saying same of the other “those”, who dwell in a different (political) world.
@Leo Said
A producer has to pay royalties for literally every second taken from a score he wishes to use for his work.
For those, who might be interested in publishing
on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/t/howto_copyright?hl=en-GB
Publishing law regarding the ‘World Wide Net’ is still a ‘broad field’ though.
@ Andrea
Vielen herzlichen Dank for the information. You are the profi in that field.