L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano this project. Here in America, we will have Roberta Gatani Borsellino, Paolo's niece and co-founder, along with Salva- tore Borsellino, of La Casa di P a o l o , j o i n i n g u s v i a l i v e streaming. Founded in 2015 in the historic Borsellino p h a r m a c y , L a C a s a d i Paolo is an extraordinary place that provides young people with real opportuni- ties for a better future, sup- porting them in their educa- t i o n a n d p e r s o n a l a n d professional growth. Know- ing that this documentary is backed by the family while also contributing to raising awareness and support for La Casa di Paolo is an immense honor for me. What feedback have you received, and what makes you most proud of the audience's reaction? T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s among the first to review the film, with the renowned Hol- lywood Magazine, the official magazine of Hollywood, call- ing it a "powerful tribute" to the figure of Paolo Borsellino. It was the very first interna- tional review, even before Italy, and for me, it was an incredible recognition. The audience's feedback has been extraordinary. Paolo Vive is not a traditional documen- which opens the docu- mentary —developed? I wrote the opening sec- tion of the documentary with great responsibility, thor- oughly researching and gath- ering direct testimonies from his family: from his children and his brother, to his niece. K n o w i n g t h a t h i s f a m i l y b e l i e v e s P a o l o w o u l d b e proud of this documentary is an indescribable emotion for me. When I arrived in New York, beyond the excitement of living my own American D r e a m , o n e t h o u g h t w a s clear: "I am here for Paolo." I crossed the ocean to tell his story, to carry forward his message, and to be one of t h o s e y o u n g p e o p l e h e encouraged to never give up the fight for justice. My work, my pen, and my camera are powerful tools for education and memory, and knowing that I have carried his voice so far is an immense honor. I am certain that wherever he is, Paolo is proud of me. What kind of input did y o u r e c e i v e f r o m t h e Borsellino family? T h e f e e d b a c k f r o m t h e Borsellino family has been an immense gift. Having them by my side, with their sup- port and encouragement, has added even more value to tary; it has a different, more i n t i m a t e a n d e m o t i o n a l approach. It opens with a powerful scene, masterfully performed by Bruno Torrisi a s P a o l o B o r s e l l i n o , w h o symbolically comes back to life from Via D'Amelio, walks through his beloved Palermo, and speaks directly to the audience, to young people, to all of us. He talks about what he lived through and what he n e v e r h a d t h e c h a n c e t o experience, such as the joy of b e c o m i n g a g r a n d f a t h e r . From there, the interviews begin, one after another, fea- turing previously unpub - lished photographs provided by Paolo's family and the rel- atives of the bodyguards who l o s t t h e i r l i v e s i n t h e V i a D'Amelio bombing. The documentary does not include footage of the Via D'Amelio explosion. Why did you make this choice? I wanted to give value to w o r d s , t o t h e t r u t h t o l d directly by the families of the victims. When I requested that footage, some major Ital- ian media outlets asked me t o c u t c e r t a i n i n t e r v i e w s b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e t o o intense. But I refused to cen- s o r a n y t h i n g . T h e w o r l d needs to know what these families went through, what it truly means to be victims of the mafia — even in the after- math, in the loneliness that remains. What makes you most proud of this project? When people realize that the director of this documen- tary is a woman. Many are s u r p r i s e d , a n d m a n y a r e happy. A lot of people tell me t h a t t h e y c a n s e n s e a woman's touch in the way this story was told, in the s e n s i t i v i t y w i t h w h i c h I approached it. I wanted to be direct and unfiltered, but also p r o f o u n d a n d r e s p e c t f u l . However, what moves me the most is when young people shake my hand, look me in the eyes, and tell me they want to become police offi- cers or magistrates because they are inspired by Paolo Borsellino. If even two out of ten young people leave the theater with this dream, then I have won. d o c u m e n t a r y a b o u t Paolo Borsellino? The idea to create a docu- m e n t a r y a b o u t P a o l o Borsellino originated from the respect and admiration I always felt for him. Telling his story means honoring his sacrifice and that of everyone w h o f o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e mafia. I felt it was my duty to keep his memory alive, espe- cially for new generations, so that his example is never for- gotten. This documentary is not just a professional pro- ject but a personal and moral commitment to truth and justice. W h a t d o e s t h e t i t l e Paolo Vive mean to you? In what way does Paolo Borsellino live on today? Paolo Vive means that his sacrifice was not in vain, that his fight for justice continues to this day. Paolo Borsellino lives in the courage of those who refuse to yield, in the choices of those who fight for truth, and in the young peo- ple who believe in a future without the mafia. He lives every time someone chooses not to look away. H o w w a s t h e m o n o- logue text — performed b y B r u n o T o r r i s i a s Paolo Borsellino, reflect- ing on his life and family, " P a o l o V i v e i s n o t j u s t a t r i b u t e t o B o r s e l l i n o . I t i s a message of memory, justice, and hope for new generations." With these w o r d s , d i r e c t o r D e b o r a Scalzo presented her docu- film Paolo Vive in the Unit- ed States, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance a n d C o m m i t m e n t i n Memory of the Innocent Victims of the Mafias. The film was first shown in New York and, later, at the Ital- ian Cultural Institute in L o s A n g e l e s . I t f o c u s e s on the Via D'Amelio mas- sacre on July 19, 1992, when Judge Paolo Borsellino was assassinated alongside five members of his escort. "Cine- ma is a powerful tool for pre- serving memory, and this film stands as a testimony to the courage and commitment of Paolo Borsellino in the fight for justice," emphasized E m a n u e l e A m e n d o l a , director of the Italian Cultur- al Institute. The initiative also received support from the Italian Consulate in L o s A n g e l e s . " P a o l o Borsellino is a contemporary hero whose legacy can inspire young generations to stand against the visible and invisi- ble enemies of our time, for the benefit of society," Con- s u l G e n e r a l R a f f a e l l a Valentini declared. Debora Scalzo, born in A s t i a n d n o w r e s i d i n g i n M i l a n , h a s d e e p S i c i l i a n roots: her parents and grand- parents come from Catania and Agrigento. "Being here in America to tell the story of my homeland, Sicily, and to bring a message of education and legality to young Ameri- cans is an incredibly impor- tant achievement for me, both professionally and per- sonally," the director tells L ' I t a l o - A m e r i c a n o . "Telling the story of my land through the figure of a great man who makes me proud to be Sicilian is an honor and a mission I pursue with heart and determination." When and why did you get the idea to make a Left, Debora Scalzo with Bruno Torrisi, who interprets Paolo Borsellino in her docu-film; right, Scalzo and her team on set (Photos courtesy of Debora Scalzo) In a docufilm, the lasting memory of Paolo Borsellino comes to life SILVIA NITTOLI LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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