Revisiting my conversation with screenwriter Stefano Rulli about his film on Italian hero Giorgio Perlasca

The made for TV docu-drama is a popular genre of filmmaking that has immortalized some of the most influential people in Italian history. Most of these made-for- TV movies are shown throughout Italy on Rai Uno. However, some do reach beyond the border through Rai Italia, Italy's International network, to provide us with a fascinating look into Italian history.

Stefano Rulli (far right) at the Festa del Cinema di Roma, 2016

With that said, enter Giorgio Perlasca, Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia. Giorgio Perlasca has been described as a fascist who saved Jews. Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia are the filmmakers who told his story. During the fall of Mussolini in 1943, Giorgio Perlasca was working for an Italian importer in Budapest, Hungary. When Italians residing in the country were urged home, Perlasca refused, on the grounds that he did not want to live under German occupation in Italy. He stayed in Budapest and found work at the Spanish envoy, Angel Sanz-Briz. He, along with other members of the diplomatic community, issued protective passes to Budapest Jews. In late 1944, Sanz-Briz left the country…but Perlasca stayed. He appointed himself in charge, changed his name from the Italian “Giorgio” to the Spanish “Jorge” and continued issuing protective passes. Between November 1944 and January 1945, Perlasca worked with officials from Sweden, the International Red Cross and the Vatican. Together, they saved about 3,500 Hungarian Jews.

In the spring of 2002, RAI Uno aired Perlasca - Un eroe italiano (Perlasca - An Italian Hero) a movie written by Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia, which documented the extraordinary life of Giorgio Perlasca. I spoke with Stefano Rulli in New York during the 2005 edition of Open Roads: New Italian Cinema. He said that for 50 years, Perlasca’s heroism was virtually forgotten, perhaps because he doesn’t fit into the stereotype of a typical war hero. Perlasca could not accept that churches were burned and could not believe that people were killed only because they had different religious beliefs. He did what came natural to him, and saved people from what he believed to be senseless killings. Rulli stressed the importance of Perlasca’s role in Italian history and feels that he could be of great interest to Italian-Americans simply because he was a very likeable, brave person. His legacy offers a different perspective into one’s Italian origins.

Luca Zingaretti as Giorgio Prenasca in Perlasca: An Italian hero

Information about Perlasca can be found in books such as, L’impostore and El Schindler Italiano. In researching, Stefano Rulli found a biography written by Enrico Deaglio, a famous Italian journalist, who rediscovered Perlasca a few years before the film was made. The book is called The Banality of Goodness and is available in English. There is also an official website for Perlasca- www.giorgioperlasca.it. Another interesting article, The Story of Giorgio Perlasca (in Italian) can be found Rai.it.

Click here to watch Perlasca: An Italian hero on Rai Play. Unfortunately, there are not English subtitles but I recommend giving it a try. The performances by Luca Zingaretti, Marco Bonini and Elena Arvigo in particular combined with Ennio Morricone's soundtrack make it a beautiful, moving film.

Comments

Luminous Legacies: Yoichi Ohira’s Murano Glass at Magazzino Italian Art

A new exhibition in Cold Spring, New York, is bringing the luminous legacy of Murano glassmaking into focus through the work of Japanese artist Yoichi Ohira. “Yoichi Ohira: Japan in Murano” is on view at Magazzino Italian Art until February 2027. The exhibit showcases the work of Ohira, who became a leading figure in the design of Venetian glassworks on the island of Murano. The exhibition features works that highlight the uniqueness of Ohira’s art across the decades of his career. Ohira’s earliest Murano works blend Venetian glass techniques with his own style. These pieces show balanced shapes, clear surfaces, and striking color combinations. His Venezia e l’Oriente (Venice and the Orient) decanters reflect Venice’s ties to the East, creating vases inspired by Marco Polo’s tales with a modern twist. The exhibition shows Ohira’s respect for Murano’s glass masters, displaying objects alongside preparatory drawings that map ideas to the final works of art. It also explores ho...

7 Days - 7 Women: Gina Lollobrigida

Update, January 16,2023: Gina Lollobrigida has passed away at the age of 95. On Day 3 of our week-long series, 7 Days - 7 Women, in which we are showcasing seven strong, talented women working as filmmakers, writers or visual artists, we celebrate the forceful, creative energy of movie legend Gina Lollobrigida. She has been called the most beautiful woman in the world and at 87 years old, she is still a sight to behold. Her outer beauty mirrors the talent and inner beauty of this true, complete artist. Lollobrigida, the iconic actress, photojournalist and sculptress, was born Luigina Lollobrigida on July 4, 1932 in Subiaco, Italy, a town located outside of Rome in the province of Lazio. Adored by fans all over the world, Lollobrigida has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Anthony Quinn and Shelly Winters. She acted opposite Bob Hope in his 1968 comedy, "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell," and...

The Legend of Alberto Sordi - Rome's Eternal Son

′′They will always judge you, whether you behave well or if you behave badly. So screw it and live as you want but above all don't listen to anyone.′′ - Alberto Sordi By giving his fellow Italians something to laugh about during tumultuous times, he emerged as his generation’s King of Comedy. One of Italy’s best-loved personalities, Alberto Sordi played a pivotal role in Italian cinema from the end of World War II to the postwar economic boom of the 1950s. During those tumultuous years, he gave his countrymen a hearty laugh when they might have otherwise cried. Former Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi perhaps said it best: “Alberto Sordi interpreted the feelings of Italians, especially in their most difficult and tough moments.” Born in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome in 1920, Sordi grew up in a creative household. His mother was an elementary school teacher and his father, a professional musician for the Rome Opera House. A young Sordi joined the children’s choir o...

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

The Extraordinary Career and Legacy of Dino De Laurentiis

Producer Dino De Laurentiis was one of the most prolific filmmakers ever, having produced or co-produced more than 600 films during a career that spanned seven decades. His legacy continues not only through the work of his children and grandchildren but also through a new generation of filmmakers in his Italian hometown. De Laurentiis was born in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius on Aug. 8, 1919, in the city of Torre Annunziata, located just minutes from the ruins of Pompeii. As a child, he worked at a local pasta factory owned and operated by his father. That experience had a profound effect on him, shaping a lifelong passion for food and an appreciation for business. At the age of 17, he decided to leave home for the big city. He arrived in Rome and enrolled in the prestigious film school, Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. After attending the school for about a year, he managed to produce one film in 1940, The Last Combat , before having to leave Rome temporarily for m...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog