FILMS

ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM

Directed by: 

Simon Farrugia

Co-Directed by: 

Philip Ciantar

Music by: 

Mark Farrugia

Genre: 

Ethnographic Film (Ethnomusicological Film)

Duration: 

31 minutes

Release Date:
Premiered at the 48th World Conference of the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance
January 2025 | Wellington, New Zealand  

Film Description:

Sounds of Weeping is an ethnographic film that delves into the emotional spaces created by funeral marches on the Mediterranean island of Malta. While Maltese wind bands are often celebrated for their vibrant festa marches, this documentary shifts focus to the evocative funeral marches that serve as spaces for personal and communal expressions of grief. Examining the use of these funeral marches across Good Friday pageants, funeral cortèges, social gatherings, and moments of personal introspection, the film reveals their role in shaping emotional and cultural experiences. Through evocative imagery and interviews, Sounds of Weeping illuminates the deep connection between music and Maltese identity.