pierre j mejlak
bio news books reviews awards blog contact
     
 
 

SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS
01. Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita
02. Dak li l-Lejl Ihallik Tghid
03. Having Said Goodnight

NOVELS
01. Rih Isfel

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
01. Trab Abjad
02. Meta Nstabu l-Angli

ADAPTATIONS
01. Stejjer mill-Bibbja
02. Enciklopedija ghat-Tfal
03. L-Istorja ta' Gesu'
04. Il-Leggenda ta' San Gorg u d-Dragun

ANTHOLOGIES
01. Gojjin 7
02. Gojjin 8
03. Senduq Kuluri Orangjo
04. Senduq Buffuri Orangjo
05. Senduq Buffuri Vjola
06. Senduq Kuluri Ahmar
07. Senduq Buffuri Ahmar
08. Kalejdoskopju 5
09. Kalejdoskopju 6
10. Storie
11. Kalejdoskopju 3
12. Kieku l-Ikel Jitkellem
13. Kalejdoskopju 4
14. 45
15. 1.mt
16. Spaces | spazji
17. Intangible Cultural Heritage & Memory
18. Little White Lies
19. Storie (2)
20. A Sea of Words
21. Bejn Haltejn
22. 3.mt
23. Koraci
24. A Printed Thing
25. Hbieb tal-Qalb
26. Literature in Translation
27. 4.mt
28. Trag 33
29. Avangrad
30. Arja Friska
31. EU Prize for Literature
32. Il-Malti
33. Flash Fiction International

SCREENPLAYS
01. Rih Isfel

 

 

 

Rih Isfel (2010-2011)

 

Pierre J. Mejlak's award-winning novel Rih Isfel was turned into a TV series for Malta's Net TV. It was the station's prime-time TV series from October 2010 to January 2011.

The book tells the story of a young boy who goes missing and the subsequent mobilisation of all echelons of village society to search for him and bring him back home safely. "The 13-episode series goes further than the book and regales viewers with an adrenaline rush of drama, teenage love, police investigations, intelligent dialogue and unforgettable characters," director Charles Stroud of 26th frame said.

The story takes place in a small, quiet Maltese village in the hot, sticky summer days. It's a village in which nothing ever happens. So, when Jonathan, an 11-year-old boy, goes missing everything changes. "His mother is crying for his return. The police and relatives are out looking for him and the 'kazin' - the village club - is becoming a hub of new activity," explains director Charles Stroud. "In the meantime, all of the country's attention has shifted to the village, where everyone feels like a participant in the search for the boy. But nothing is simple. The challenge for the Police Inspector in charge of the investigations seems too complex. And the atmosphere of 'omertà', I'd rather not tell, is not helping much for things to become clearer."

Gambling - on anything - is the driving force of the village. Residents bet money on everything and everyone, and of course, a village disappearance is perfect fodder to fuel this obsession. Screenwriter Pierre J. Mejlak plays with this, creating moments of subtle humour that will have all viewers recognising some part of themselves or their friends in the goings on.

The TV series was filmed in various Maltese locations, mainly Siggiewi. The cast, made up of more than 100 actors, includes some of Malta's most loved TV actors, alongside an array of up-and-coming young ones.

The novel, published by Merlin Library in 2007, was adapted into a TV series by Pierre J. Mejlak himself, who regaled his TV audience with a surprising new ending. When first published, the novel won the National Book Award and was showcased at the London Book Fair.

 
 

              ©2006 Pierre J Mejlak. Site by: briangrech