Vis Med Association

Sandri: tutte le carte sono a posto per riaprire - Corriere dell'Umbria E il profilo facebook supera i 2mila "mi piace"

Ħagar Qim temple as it was 5,000 years ago Ħagar Qim has been scientifically reconstructed through a complex process to produce the closest image of what the prehistoric temple looked like when it was built 5,000 years ago. Thanks to a student’s dedicated research, the remains, which date to about 3000 BC, have been given life once again...

James Rancy is a 50 year old kid. James loved to portray himself as the son of an immigrant family because that gave some unique character to an otherwise very blend personality.

James was an only child of court clerk who sucked up to Gian Battista Micallef in the peak years of his legal practice. He insisted that James befriend Gian Battista’s son Martin much to the latter’s chagrin. James grew to be a pain in the neck in Martin’s life. He was a pain for Martin at college too. It was a relief for Martin when James attained school leaving age.

Grew up in his exclusively English language speaking family. We cannot say he had an unhappy childhood but he did not exhume happiness.

James got into nothing specific and he went from working at this and that office upon his father’s recommendations and insistence with employers. James always described his move from a job to another as a promotion. We doubt if this was a case of employers handing him over to others as an unwanted potato with tact and diplomacy given his father’s position or maybe given his father’s persistent calls and visits.

James did not drive. When you live in Sliema you do not need to drive because everything is right round the corner from where you live. He did not mind being derided by persons around him for bargaining for lifts here and there. He did not seem to mind when tongue in cheek comments about him always borrowing ci******es rather than buying them to make sure he does not become other than a social smoker.

He tried to burrow himself into a friendship with Annette bad mouthing Martin at every opportunity. Annette snubbed him only once…every time James tried to show himself as useful, a source of opportunity for an immigrant given he shared such a status too.

He always said he was in journalism and that he does not work for local audiences when people asked him for which paper he writes. He had a way with being vague about his job but he does have some friendships with contacts in The Times of Malta. He does make some money on the stock exchange using online trading platform from home.

He is well read and cultured about the history of Malta. We do not know if he has in dept knowledge but it is definitely enough to arouse interest and curiosity. He spends time in the Biblioteca and he has friendships that give him access to restricted books and documents.

He does not lose heart when people try to elbow him out of the way or out of their space. He just happens to be there out of nobody’s choice.

He also knows Karmnu who shows no respect but tolerates James’ existence. James is at home with such situations.

We do get the feeling he is gladly used at times. It is evident that he was a useful card in the hands of Annette and Martin and this is what is intriguing about this madman. He generates purpose for his unwanted presence. He generates aggressive reaction to his lack of respect of anyone around him, borders and limits but he is like an accepted toothache.

Karmnu’s death plunges him into a painful solitude. There is a change in everybody’s life except in his.

Martin Micallef is 44. The son of Gian Battista a lawyer renown for his successful practice in the Criminal Courts.
In his teenage Martin experienced his father’s transformation from a man of a jovial character to a rapidly deteriorating in morale, verve and health until his death at age 55.

Martin grew up in Sliema and he saw his village through the dramatic transformation it went through especially after the late 80’s.

At some point he did secretly consider a religious vocation but this did not last long neatly timed with his father’s disillusionment with the church and the judgemental behaviour in relation to Karmnu’s case. Dramatic situations ensuing from his father’s getting embroiled in the prosecution of Karmnu for abduction and abuse of a young girl in 1984, his subsequent declaration of temporary insanity and its aftermath seemed to steer Martin away from the legal profession neatly timed with his father disillusionment with what his own pragmatism in Karmnu’s case.

He is definitely very protective over his private life and puts up a cold glass eyes gaze when faced with indiscrete questions.

Annette is an important part of his life. Martin carried the baton of this protection and care of this father except that for him this extended to Annette.

Martin is now in Perugia. He has been there since 2012 and he is knowledgeable about the art and history of Perugia and the region of Umbria, its links to Malta and is very much at home in his surroundings.

His move to Perugia is however temporary and he knows it will end soon. His place is in Malta where his mother lives, where Karmnu and Annette see him as the embodiment of his father’s legacy.

He loathes James who he finds abhorrent, obnoxious and unnecessary. He cannot see why Karmnu and Annette tolerate his presence given that they do not show him much respect either. He has come to terms with the fact that James is some kind of necessary evil in the lives of people around him.

He watches Karmnu’s health deteriorate. His role in bringing Rabin into the scene is never really explained but he is heard speaking about it with Annette as in he did so in blind trust of Annette’s judgement. This trust is based upon a consciousness that Annette knows more of what is mystic and beyond scientific comprehension.

He watches Karmnu’s demise in a detached manner. He organises the burial with the church then walks away comforting Annette followed by a distraught and somewhat numb Rabin.

Martin goes to sell his father’s Mercedes.

Locations scouting Sala del Concerto, Palazzo della Corgna, Citta della Pieve

Sala del Concerto Palazzo Corgna