Swept Away

Swept Away (2002) Dir: Guy Ritchie. Cast: Madonna, Adriano Giannini, Bruce Davison.

Description - This romantic comedy-drama attracted some of the most scathing reviews of the decade, but it does at least show off one of Malta’s most famous beauty spots. An early scene in which Amber (Madonna) and the other main characters go on a snorkelling trip was filmed in the Blue Lagoon on Comino, one of the most tranquil, secluded locations for a swim that it’s possible to imagine.

In the film, the yacht chartered by Amber’s husband (Bruce Davison) is meant to be somewhere in Italy, but it was actually moored at Xatt ir-Risq in Vittoriosa and at Cirkewwa. The scenes showing Amber and fisherman/waiter Pepe (Adriano Giannini) drifting out to sea in an inflatable dinghy were shot at Mediterranean Film Studios.

Malta Movie Trivia: Director Guy Ritchie originally became interested in Malta as a movie location when he had plans to make an epic film about the Great Siege of Malta (1565) – a story that he still hopes to shoot.