Italians learn from an early age how to speak with their hands!!!
Bellissimo Cosi… May 2, 2012
Another great song by Laura Pausini! Her passion is incredible…
Bellissimo Cosi
Ricomincio da qui
e battezzo i miei danni
con la fede in me
senza illudermi
ma con un principio da difendere
punto a pieno su noi
è bellissimo così
meglio tardi che mai
ascoltami
posso essere io
l’occasione che aspetti da una vita
il mio
sarò di più
io sarò la certezza che chiedevi tu
è innegabile
che da quando tu mi vuoi
punto tutto su noi
sorprendimi.
lascia il tuo passato com’è
e porta il meglio da me
nel tuo presente
spezza le parole di chi non t’ama e ti dice si
non è sufficiente
e lasciati guardare un po di più
come un bagliore
splendi di rivoluzione tu
bellissimo così
vieni a me come sei
fallo immediatamente non voltarti mai
l’essenziale l’hai tu
lo nascondi ai miei occhi
ma vale di più
sei perfetto così
coi tuoi denti lucidi
punto a capo da qui
ascoltami
lascia il tuo passato com’è
lo porterai insieme a me
nel tuo presente
mezza vita è molto per chi
ti vuole e ti dice si
e lo fa per sempre
lasciati ammirare un po di più
senza pudore
provochi la mia reazione tu
bellissimo così
sono trasparente lo sai
io quando parlo di noi
quasi indecente
canto sottovoce ma c’è
un suono dentro di me
così prepotente
e lasciati guardare un po di più
come un bagliore
splendi di rivoluzione tu
bellissimo così
bellissimo così
***************************************
Beautiful Like This
I will start from her
And baptize my faults
With the faith that is within me
Without deluding myself
But with the beginnings of defending
me and you.
It’s beautiful like this
Better late than never
Listen to me
I could be
the occasion that you’ve been waiting a lifetime
For me
It’s more
I will be the certainty that you’ve been asking for
it’s undeniable
that since you’ve wanted me
I put everything on us
Surprise me.
Leave your past where it is
And bring the best of me
Into your present
Cut the words of those that don’t love you and tell you yes
It’s not enough
And let yourself be looked at a bit more
Like a glow
You’re a beautiful revolution
Beautiful like this.
Come to me as you are
Do it immediately, and don’t ever turn away
You have the essential
and you hide it from my eyes
But it’s worth more
You’re perfect like this
With your bright teeth
From the beginning to the end
Listen to me.
Leave your past how it is
You’ll bring it together with me
Into your present
Half of your life and alot for who
want you and tell you yes
and will do it forever
Let yourself be admired a little bit more
Without modesty
Provoke my reaction to you
Beautiful like this.
I am transparent, you know
when I speak of you.
Almost indecent
I sing softly
A sound inside me
So strong
And let yourself be looked at some more
Like a glow
You’re a beautiful revolution
Beautiful like this.
Beautiful like this.
Valentino….One of the Kings of Italian Design April 5, 2012
I recently watched Valentino, The Last Emperor – a documentary that chronicled “the dazzling and dramatic closing act of the last true couturier’s celebrated career” and touched upon the history of this great designer of haute couture. Of course, I had always heard of Valentino, but honestly, I don’t think that I ever really knew any of his pieces. His style was elegant – it was unique – and it was beautiful. His use of fabrics, and the way he created those one of a kind touches on each of his creations, definitely put him at the top of the fashion design world. His creations were very dressy and very formal, but also very wearable. When someone needed an elegant outfit (without regard to price), Valentino could deliver!
The fashion house still exists, but it is corporately owned (and actually has been for a very long time, even when Valentino was still designing). Among his most notable clients was Liz Taylor and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. This is the incredible wedding gown designed for Jackie!
The movie touches on the relationship between Valentino and his business and lifetime partner, Giancarlo Giammetti. The two have been involved romantically and in business for over 50 years, and it was the combination of the two together that created the great Valentino name. Valentino was the artist and creator, while Giancarlo was the anchor that held the company, and Valentino, to the ground.
La Prima Cosa Bella…A Movie Review February 2, 2012
La prima cosa bella
che ho avuto dalla vita
e il tuo sorriso giovane…
The first beautiful thing
that I’ve had in life
is your young smile…
Last night, the Italian club in San Jose treated us to a special filming of the 2010 hit movie La Prima Cosa Bella, directed and produced by Paolo Virzi. This film has not been released in the USA yet, therefore it was extra special to be able to see it. The movie was a candidate for an Academy Award for best foreign film, but sadly, didn’t make it to the finals. Irregardless, it was a great movie – both a poignant drama and a light comedy.
The story is of a young mother who, in 1971, won the contest for Miss Mamma Estate (Miss Summer Mother) at a beach resort. She had two beautiful children, but winning this contest brought out a jealous rage in her husband. The marriage began to fall apart, leading to an eventual separation and divorce. Through it all, Anna did everything to try to create a normal and happy life for her children. Despite tears and rejection in her adult life, she always put on a happy face for her children – leading them in song and carrying on with frivolity and fantasy.
The movie jumps between the past and the present where her children are all grown up and she is living her final days. Even though she is in her final moments of life, she still finds the joy of life and laughs and sings with them. Throughout the movie, the flashbacks help us to understand her life as well as the development of her children and why they have become the adults that they are. Her final words to her children moved me to tears when she said to them….”Abbiamo avuto una bella vita insieme, bimbi miei” (we’ve had a beautiful life together, my children).
The movie stars Micaela Ramazzotti as the young Anna and Stefania Sandrelli as the older Anna, Valerio Mastandrea as Bruno (her adult son), Claudia Pandolfi as Valeria (her adult daughter) among others. It won numerous awards and accolations, among them David di Donatello and Nastri d’argento.
When and if this movie becomes available in the USA, I can highly recommend it!
Tis the Night…. January 5, 2012
Tonight’s the night….are your stockings hung? All over Italy, children are awaiting the loot they will find when The Befana comes to visit. And all women are getting ready for their day….or are they? There’s always the question if being wished “Auguri” tomorrow is a good thing or not, since La Befana is an ugly old witch….and does it mean that whoever is wishing us cheer is thinking we are like La Befana? Quite a dilemma, huh? The story of La Befana is a cute one, and you can read about it on my post from last year here: La Befana by Tesoro Treasures.
But today, I wanted to share a fun little song from 1978, sung by the great Gianni Morandi, about La Befana.
Enjoy!
Trullalla, Trullalla!
The Befana comes at night
With shoes all broken
With a sock
Around her neck
With carbon, with iron, with brass.
On her broom
To fly
She comes from the sea, She comes from the sea.
And the snow shall fall
On the deserts of Maharaja
From Alaska to Canada.
She’ll need to leave
And she’ll sing while she leaves.
She’ll dress like a woman from the South
And with the sock she’ll arrive.
The storm will win,
And she’ll sing “Trullalla”
The Befana will arrive…
Trullalla…Trullalla!
A child,
The size of a little mouse,
Inserted himself in the chimney
To see her closeup.
When she arrives,
The Befana,
Without teeth,
Jumps and dances for some wime.
Then, hiding, she backs away
With the night stuck to her skirt.
And a warm wind will blow
on the deserts of the Maharaja
From Alaska to Canada.
Only one star will shine,
and she’ll have to follow it
to fly towards the North..
and the road is long, but
the storm will win.
And singing Trullalla
The Befana will go.
Remote Tree Lighting Ceremony…Really? December 7, 2011
Pope Benedict XVI has the distinct honor of lighting the largest Christmas tree in the world tonight in Gubbio, Italy. It has over 1000 lights, and it is over 2,000 feet tall! It isn’t an actual tree, but a tree design draped over Mt. Ingino overlooking the medieval town. The tree is a symbol of “universal peace and brotherhood among people” all over the world.
But, the Pope won’t actually be present in Gubbio…he is lighting the tree remotely from his Vatican suite with a tablet computer! And this is where the confusion lies – it was first mentioned that he would be using an Apple iPad, but now reports claim he is using the Sony tablet.
(Pope Benedict) will touch the screen of a Sony “Tablet” with an “Android” operating system which, via the Internet, will transmit the command to switch on the electric current to the tree.
~from Vatican Information News.
Why the switch? It’s a papal mystery!
The device used really is not important as long as it does the trick. The display will be gorgeous and the message of peace clearly displayed.
Little Known History of Italian POW’s November 15, 2011
Courtesy of Camilla Calamandrei
The film shows some great footage of Italians in North Africa during the War and also footage of their times in the internment camps strewn all over the United States.
It follows the stories of six POW’s and their personal experiences. One of the most memorable lines in the movie is from a POW who said that while he was fighting in North Africa he was hungry and living in horrible conditions. But after his capture by the Americans and shipment to an American POW camp, he felt like he was in Paradise – he was fed abundantly, given a pack of cigarettes a day, and slept in warm barracks! Even though he was a prisoner of war, the Americans treated him with kindness and respect. The hardest part for him was not having any notice of his family back home. His letters home went unanswered, and he had no news for the remainder of the war.
The story continues to explore the change when Italy surrendered and switched alliances. These Italian POW’s were given the choice to join forces with the USA to provide assistance to the war effort. Many decided to cooperate and were given considerable freedoms. They were allowed to socialize with the Italian-American families already settled here, and many met and fell in love with their future brides.
Several of these war brides were interviewed in the film and just hearing about their experiences brought tears to my eyes.
When the war ended, these Italian POW’s were freed and sent back to Italy. Their excitement at being allowed to go back home quickly became horror as they entered the port of Naples to find it completely destroyed. Their homeland was in shambles and they were devastated and scared to find what their homes would be like. They knew that they would have to work hard to rebuild Italy once again.
Meanwhile, those young American women who had fallen in love with their Italian POW’s were also at a loss. Their loves were sent back to Italy and could not return unless they were married. Many of these girls hopped on ships and sailed to Italy to claim their husbands. They married in Italy and came back with their Italian husbands. But, I can just imagine how many never saw their loves again….
The end of the movie touches upon the tender memories of the POW’s who have made America their home for many years now. They tearfully mention that America has given them everything, but that a big part of their hearts still belong to Italy.
I can highly recommend this movie – it is available for purchase at www.prisonersinparadise.com.
Below is a very informative essay written by Camilla Calamandrei and she has given her permission to post it to my post – thank you, Camilla, for all the hard work you put in on your research into this very important part of our Italian heritage.
Italian POWs held in America during WW II:
Historical Narrative and Scholarly
Analysis
by Camilla Calamandrei
From
June 1940 through May 1943, hundreds of thousands of Italians were sent into a
war for which they were ill equipped and about which they understood little. By
the end of 1943, over six hundred thousand Italian soldiers were taken prisoner
and, of those, 51,000 were brought to America as enemy prisoners of war.
The documentary “Prisoners in Paradise” traces the journey of six young
Italians: from their entry into the war; to internment as prisoners in a country
with a level of abundance and wealth they had never imagined possible; through a
decision that would change not only their experience as prisoners in the United
States, but in many cases, lead them to a second decision that would change the
course of their adult lives.
The first period of critical decision making for Italian POWs began on
September 8, 1943, with the announcement of the signing of the armistice by the
Badoglio government in Italy. Now that Italy was officially an ally of the
United States, Italian POWs were faced with the dilemma of whether to “
collaborate” (i.e., perform war related work) with the nation that had, until
that moment, been their enemy captor. To understand how confusing this concept
was at that time, it needs to be noted that during this same period Northern
Italy was still occupied by Germans who managed to free Mussolini on September
12th, and place him at the head of a newly declared fascist republic. If these
simultaneous contradictory scenarios are confusing for us to follow with fifty
years of hindsight, one can only imagine how shocking the shifting alliances
must have been for young Italians who had only recently been pulled from combat.
Looking at the data, it seems clear that Italians POWs in America were,
overall, sympathetic to the Allied cause. Almost 90% of the Italian POWs agreed
to support the U.S. war effort by joining what would be called Italian Service
Units. This summary view unfairly disguises, however, the difficulty, and in
some cases trauma, of being asked to make this kind of decision. If these men
had gone to war with the understanding that they didn’t have to believe in the
war–they only had to believe in the greatness of Italy–then what did it mean
now to change loyalties? Did this constitute further loyalty, in obeying the
government of their homeland? Or, did it constitute a pathetic move to avoid
being associated with the losing side? For young enlisted men there were all
these questions as well as: the fear of being sent back into combat–possibly
this time in Japan; fear of helping supply munitions that would be used in Italy
where their families might be in harm’s way; and fear of some kind of
retribution against their families if it became known that their sons were
helping the Allies. For Italian officers, who tended to be more indoctrinated in
the ideology of fascism, changing sides was incomprehensible because it meant
that there was no such thing as the courage of one’s convictions. Finally, for
some individual enlisted men and officers who had fought side by side with
Germans for two and a half years, there was also the simple question of loyalty
to fellow soldiers.
Italian POWs were right to view the decision to support the U.S. war effort
as a serious one. It would dramatically affect the quality of their experience
as prisoners in the U.S. And, in turn, for those who would become immersed in
relationships and the abundance of life in America, it would lead them to the
question after the war of whether they should live in Italy or seize the
opportunity to build a new life under the flag of another nation.
The almost 45,000 Italian POWs who eventually agreed to join Italian Service
Units were relocated, almost immediately, to coastal and industrial sites across
the United States. They worked with American civilians and military personnel in
combat related work for the remainder of the war. By contrast, non-collaborating
Italian POWs were kept in highly isolated camps in places like Texas, Arizona,
Wyoming and Hawaii.
In addition to having jobs and earning money, men involved in the Italian
Service Units were given increased freedom of movement and as a result, incre
ased interaction with American civilians. Across the country, there was an
outpouring of interest on the part of Italian Americans who were looking in the
Italian POW camps for relatives, family friends or simply people from their
hometowns. As a result a number of Catholic parishes in many states arranged to
host dinners where Italian Americans could meet and visit with Italian POWs.
These courtesies were extended almost exclusively to POWs who had agreed to
support the war effort and even the freedoms granted these Italian Service Unit
members varied greatly depending on where they were situated in the U.S.
Comparing and contrasting the experiences of Italian POWs on the East Coast
with POW experiences in the mid-West and on the West Coast reveals that, while
their lives inside camp walls were quite similar, surrounding communities had a
strong influence on how much freedom POWs had to move outside camp boundaries.
It seems that community responses varied by region according to immigration
patterns prior to the war, local politics, regional economic realties and
involvement and/or perspectives on the war. For example, one might assume that
the East Coast, because of its old world, European connection and large Italian
American communities, would have been the place where Italian POWs were received
most sympathetically but this was not necessarily the case. While there were
many Italian Americans who wanted to retain contact with the prisoners (by
travelling to visit them on Sundays) it was generally accepted that this should
be a relatively reserved activity. The fact that these Italian POWs were
contributing to the war effort did not erase the knowledge that Italy had
contributed to escalating the war in the early years.
In contrast in the middle of the country, in states like Utah, Michigan, and
Ohio, Italians serving in Italian Service Units had some modified privileges and
an unofficially sanctioned freedom of movement. POWs could be escorted out of
the camp by U.S. soldiers (which usually required a bribe) or POWs could sneak
out of the camp and sneak back in, under an unofficial agreement by which
American soldiers would turn a blind eye. In Ogden, Utah a local church held
chaperoned dances each weekend for the POWs and Italian American families could
visit POWs on Sundays.
Finally in California, where the war was palpable through to the end of 1945
because of the intensity of fighting in the Pacific, Italian POWs working in
support of the war effort were actually received most enthusiastically. While
local West Coast Italian Americans had felt some tension in their neighborhoods
early in the war (i.e., that they should not too openly be supportive or
concerned about Italy) once Italy switched sides community animosity turned more
consistently to the Asians. As a result, Italian POWs had a rather significant
amount of freedom in the camps in California. The most amazing story being that
of the Italian POWs stationed on Angel Island who held regular dances in a hall
in San Francisco that they rented with their own money. In addition, Italian
American families in California could, with official permission, take Italian
Service Unit members out of POW camps for picnics and outings. It is important
to note that immigration patterns during the 20’s- 30’s in California set the
stage for a sympathetic reception of Italian POWs. Italians in the preceding
decades had immigrated in large numbers and established themselves as fisherman,
farmers and winemakers. In this state, heavily populated with immigrants from
all over the world, by the 1940’s Italians were seen as relatively established
–especially in contrast with Asian laborers who were seen as a threat to the
local “white” labor movement. Racism towards another group took the edge off
racism or fear of the Italians. A point which actually refers to a larger
transition that was occurring for America during this period: the change in the
perceived definition of who was a true American.
During WWII white ethnic Americans (e.g., Italian Americans, Jews, Irish
Americans) were drawn into a more integrated, accepted status as they were asked
to go to war for their country and as they had the experience of forming bonds,
while in the army, across ethnicities and class. Early in the war Italian
American communities were fiercely divided as it became clear that some were
embarrassed by Mussolini’s actions and others were still sympathetic to the
fascist regime. In families where perhaps only the father had become a citizen
when they first immigrated, wives and children quickly moved to establish their
American citizenship. With this as the backdrop, we see how Italian POWs and
Americans were each facing their own questions of personal identity, loyalty and
nationality during the period when they were called upon to work together for
the larger Allied cause.
In addition to the stories of Italian POWs interacting with Italian
Americans, there were numerous situations in which Italian POWs developed
relations with Americans of diverse heritages (e.g., Italian POWs in Colorado
and Nebraska were sent to do farm work for German American farming families; in
California and in New York POWs were guarded by Irish American guards). In a
remarkable number of instances, the human impulses towards connection and
camaraderie allowed the labels of “enemy,” “prisoner” and “foreigner” to fade
away and be replaced by life long bonds of friendship and love. This was credit
to both the Italians whose vitality and good will flowed freely and to the
Americans whose curiosity and humanity led them into vibrant, warm relations
with the Italian prisoners.
By the end of the war in December 1945, Italian POWs had contributed millions
of hours to the war effort. When they were repatriated in January 1946, a number
were leaving significant relationships behind—hoping, but not sure, that they
would find a way to stay connected. Their joyous return to the homeland was, of
course, tempered by the devastation evident throughout Italy and the realization
that opportunities for young men returning from war were few. For Italian POWs
who had not collaborated with the U.S., the return to Italy also meant coming to
terms with the fact that in many cases friends and relatives had in the end
decided to support the Allied war effort, and the non-collaborating position was
no longer a popular one either officially or unofficially.
In the years following the war, some of the couples who had met in America
did decide to marry. In order to do that the American women had to go to Italy
and marry there (because of quotas restricting immigration into the U.S.). Most
often, due to financial difficulties in Italy, these couples would return to
raise families in the United States in the areas where the women had lived and
where they still had jobs. We don’t know, officially, how many ex POWs chose to
come back and live in America—but a number of them do now live as American
citizens in the towns where they were first enemy prisoners of war. Others
(especially officers from the “fascist” camp in Hereford, Texas) have written
books and created art about their experiences in America, and have returned to
visit periodically. Clearly the experience of being a POW had a big impact on
the 51,000 men who were brought here. And, they–in turn–had a big impact on
all the lives they became part of, whether it was for the war years only or for
the fifty years to follow.
copyright 2000, Camilla Calamandrei
Enchanted April October 13, 2011
Thanks to my friend Vicky from Spirit of Italy Tours for telling me about this endearing movie about….what else…ITALY! The story takes place during the 1920′s, when a group of four women from London decide to rent a villa (or castle, as they call it) along the Italian Riviera for a month. The ladies do not know each other prior to their trip, but their differences become inconsequential after a few weeks together. It is the story of Lottie – a kind- hearted woman who is always trying to please her husband without receiving any appreciation in return; Rose – the “disappointed madonna,” as her husband calls her; Caroline – the young, rich beauty that is tired of being the object of men’s attentions solely because she is wealthy and beautiful; and Mrs. Fisher – an older widow who lives in the past remembering her famous dead friends.
The story begins when Lottie finds an ad in the paper advertising a one month stay in an Italian castle and decides she needs to get away for awhile. She, in turn, puts out an ad advertising for some travelling companions. The four women meet each other in San Salvatore in a gorgeous villa overlooking the sea. The place is so beautiful and this idyllic location inspires each of the women to look within to find themselves. The end result is that each of the women finds her own happiness from their personal experience here. The movie touches on several themes: love, self esteem, and inner reflection.
This film is definitely a “chick flick”…but a charming one at that. It has a wonderful moral: Go to Italy and all your problems will be solved!!! Perhaps the Italian Tourist bureau should use this film as a good form of propaganda for an Italian Holiday!
Blood Sisters…A Book Review August 8, 2011
Blood Sisters is the first novel by Italian auther, Alessandro Perissinotto, that has been translated into English. It follows the pseudo-detective, Anna Pavesi, and her search for a missing person around the Milan/Bergamo area. Anna is a psychologist and not a real detective, but she has developed a reputation for being able to find missing people. One day she is approached by a wealthy aristocrat, Benedetta, to find the body of her half sister (whom she doesn’t even know) that is missing. She knew that her sister had been killed in a car accident, but the body has mysteriously gone missing. At first, Anna doesn’t want to take the job, but because she has just become recently divorced and needs the money, she agrees. Little by little, Anna finds herself deeply engrossed in the mystery and, as she gets more involved, her life becomes endangered.
Upper Bergamo, where Anna lives, shrouded in fog
The book is fast paced and fun to read. The characters are well developed and the plot keeps you hooked. There is plenty of adventure, suspense and even romance. I can highly recommend this novel. I read this book as part of the Italy in Books Challenge 2011.
Death at La Fenice…A Book Review July 5, 2011
Death At La Fenice by Donna Leon is part of series of detective novels featuring the endearing Commissario Guido Brunetti. This particular story involves a world-reknowned conductor, and his death by cyanide poisoning during the intermission of La Traviata at La Fenice in Venice. As Brunetti tries to piece together evidence to find the culprit of this crime, he learns more and more about the famed conductor’s life. He comes to realize that he had many enemies, and his past was filled with heinous secrets. There were many who could be responsible for wanting to see his demise, despite the reverence that the musical community had for his conducting genius.
The book was fast paced and kept me interested throughout. The descriptions of winter in Venice, with its bone-chilling dampness and thick pea-soup fog, were so realistic that I could feel the chill coming through the words.
I can highly recommend this book, and look forward to more stories about Comm. Brunetti.
This book was read as part of Italy in Books Challenge 2011.
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