An unexpected Alessandro Preziosi met the IMPACT! giffoners to talk about “La legge del terremoto” (The law of the earthquake), the documentary film that marked his debut as a director. From the 1980 Irpinia earthquake (in the Campania region), a common thread runs through Belice (Sicily), Assisi (Umbria), Friuli, L'Aquila (Abruzzo) and Amatrice (Lazio), in a story enriched by contributions from Erri De Luca, Vittorio Sgarbi, Pierluigi Bersani, Angelo Borrelli and many others. The subject, which is especially dear to Preziosi, deeply moved the young people’s sensitivity, prompting them to engage in an open debate.
Asked how it is possible to rebuild from the rubble, the actor replied: “Wounds are overcome by faith, which is a great chance and a grace. In our precariousness, we need to know about life experiences lived by others. And the greatest life experience in the history of humanity is brought to us by Jesus himself. In order to get back on your feet after a trauma, it is essential to be open to the grace of life, without remaining focused on your own pain or emotion, acting as a victim. Suffering is a very powerful instrument of self investigation and knowledge. And over time I’ve learnt to understand that concentrating on emotions alone is a mistake if it prevents you from being involved in the things of life. In times of crisis, you have to roll up your sleeves and take action”.
Upon receiving the Giffoni Award, the actor commented: “When I met the young people of Giffoni, I had to hold back my tears. I didn’t expect my documentary film to have such an impact on them, nor did I expect them to be willing to tell their stories so freely. Their desire to express their emotions is definitely contagious”.
