L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 www.italoamericano.com 6 The fascinating story Chiara of Assisi told by Italian novelist Dacia Maraini Part of the generation of the 30s, Dacia Maraini is more than just a writer: in fact, as she took part to the group of intellectuals, she is now ranked with some of the best-known authors of Italian literature. A poet, an essayist, a playwright, and a screenwriter, but most of all a woman who has been able to give voice to other women, besides the ages they belonged to and the life they lived. During an event organized by the Italian Cultural Institute a n d t h e L e o n a r d o d a V i n c i Society, Dacia explored the pro- tagonist of one of her books, Chiara of Assisi: In Praise of Disobedience, and walked the audience through the extraordi- nary decision to live a life of poverty and sacrifice. The jour- ney along Chiara's experience became even more fascinating for being told by a person who considered herself not-practising Christian. This also shows the ability to go beyond the tradi- tional, well known biography and to surprise the reader with the story of a complicated rela- tion with the Church, similar to the one of many people born and raised in a Christian country. The book is thought as an episto- l a r y e x c h a n g e w i t h a y o u n g Chiara who asks the writer to tell about the Saint and report what is said in the diary of her life. First of all, why and how did Chiara's story become a source of inspiration? A t l e a s t t h r e e f a c t s a b o u t Chiara's life interested me. The first one is the fight between the Church and those who - like C h i a r a - w a n t e d a r e f o r m . Secondly, the reclusion remind- ed me the experience during my childhood time in Japan: not only the reclusion as a status, but also the prison as a place. The visions and the dreams coming from this condition are very spe- cial: in the Middle Age, people could see angels and things that nobody can see. The third reason is poverty: what Chiara says about it, it's not the praise of poverty but both a choice and a way to reach freedom. She was 18 when she went to the Pope and asked the privilege of pover- ty, disobeying to the Church's rule. She had a political mind, p r a c t i s i n g d e m o c r a c y i n t h e monastery and giving the exam- ple of how to be humble. She always refused to give orders and punishments: that was her personal revolution. I n t h e b o o k , t h e y o u n g Chiara asks you to give voice to "The woman who wasn't there". What does that mean? Young Chiara says "I don't SERENA PERFETTO k n o w w h o I a m " , w a n t s t o understand that woman from the past and, starting from there, learn more about herself. They are both virgin, they are afraid of sex, and they refuse food. Of course, the reason behind the old Chiara's choices are related to the fact she wants to be close to Christ. When I started reading b o o k s a b o u t C h i a r a a n d t h e Middle Age, I found the idea of being faithful very interesting and dangerous. For example, as s o o n a s s h e j o i n e d t h e monastery, she couldn't go out anymore but people kept visiting her. She was considered a saint before the Church recognized her that way: she dies in August a n d i n O c t o b e r s h e b e c a m e saint. W h e r e d i d y o u g e t t h e details about Chiara's life? A book from a small publish- ing company collected the sis- ters' testimony about Chiara's life. Many details came from there, such as the one that no animals but cats were allowed in the monastery. Among those c a t s , t h e r e w a s a l i t t l e o n e , called la gattuccia, that became Chiara's best friend. It is said that, while she was paralysed in h e r l e g s , t h e o n l y t h i n g s h e could do was to embroider. One time, she was looking for more clothes and, as nobody could h e a r w h a t s h e w a s s a y i n g , Chiara asked the little cat. Since la gattuccia brought her what needed, it was considered one of Chiara's miracle. W h a t ' s y o u r i d e a a b o u t Francis and Chiara's friend- ship? Unlike many think, she was n o t a n a p p e n d i x o f F r a n c i s . They had some stuff in com- mon: for example, they both belong to wealthy families and they wanted to take the Church back to the gospel. They were part of a culture which wanted t o r e f o r m t h e C h u r c h f r o m inside, without destroying it. This was the real revolution that brought to a fight with the Pope. Their background was similar too: the mother of Francis was French and full of an innovative culture. The mother of Chiara belonged to an important family too, but very advanced in ideas. They met, they shared the same t h o u g h t s , a n d i m m e d i a t e l y became friends. How can the old Chiara be useful for a young, modern Chiara? I think that many characters from the past can be a model for y o u n g p e o p l e t o d a y . F o r instance, the importance of com- ing back to the sacredness of the person relates to Chiara's deci- sion of refusing property which is mainly a refusal of posses- sion. This is the way she can be, for instance, considered modern. Dacia Maraini was born in Fiesole in 1936 Mar. 5, Thurs. - Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half-hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:30 p.m. The Passionate Thief, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1960). (Risate di gioia). 4K Digital Restoration! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/monicelli_2015 Mar. 7, Sat. - Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 6:30 p.m. Big Deal on Madonna Street, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1958). (I soliti ignoti). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/monicelli_2015 Mar. 9, Mon.- sfSoundSalonSeries: Marco Fusi New Italian music for violin and viola. Italian new music specialist Marco Fusi visits the Bay Area with a program of contemporary violin and viola works by some of the most innovative Italian composers working today. Center for New Music, 55 Taylor Street, San Francisco. Info http://centerfornewmusic.com Mar. 14 & 15, Sat & Sun - La Cleopatra: a forgotten Venetian opera. Music by Daniele da Castrovillari - Libretto by Giacomo dall'Angelo 1662 - Teatro San Angelo - Venezia. Marines' Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco Info at http://www.arsminerva.org/#!la-cleopatra/ccgt Mar. 20, Fri.- Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:30 p.m. The Great War, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1959). (La grande guerra). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/film- series/monicelli_2015 Mar. 21, Sat. – 57th Annual Swallow's Day Parade – Mark your calendar to be a part of the Italian entry. There is no better way to show your Italian pride than by marching along a parade route lined with over 30,000 spectators, filmed on TV and broadcast live on several radio stations. To be a part of the Italian entry and the post parade party at Zoomar's contact Vicky at vcarabini@cox.net. Mar. 29, Sun. - Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:00 p.m. For Love and Gold, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1966). (L'armata Brancaleone). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/monicelli_2015 "Chiara di Assisi. L'elogio della disobbedienza" was first published in 2013

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