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In the current political climate in the United States there is renewed interest in past authoritarian regimes, particularly Benito Mussolini’s Italy, and the postwar order that emerged after World War II. This program will shed light on an international war crime that occurred after the fall of the Mussolini regime and the long reckoning that followed. The original incident inspired an important Italian novel, an Oscar-winning Italian film, a critically acclaimed American play, and most recently, an opera jointly commissioned by San Francisco Opera and Teatro Regio di Torino in 2015. Yet despite the myriad ways it has been remembered in the arts, the mass sexual assault of Italians was largely forgotten in official histories.
University of California scholars will join an Italian film critic and Bay Area performing artist in exploring the struggle to confront the episode identified with Two Women (title of three creative works spanning 70 years) in light of the discourse of human rights since 1945. How do such extreme events shape societies, and conversely, how do the very personal experiences of war survivors affect any nation’s effort to come to terms with its past, whether as victor or victim? Drawing on disciplines in the humanities, law, and human rights, the panelists will discuss the impact of war crimes, particularly sexual violence, and current efforts to combat impunity for such crimes today. Their conversation will be enriched by the presentation of three classic Italian films and one American play about Italy during and after wartime.
Film fest with discussion by an Italian film expert April 24: Vittorio De Sica, Two Women, Hearst Field Annex Room A1, 7 pm. April 25: Roberto Rossellini, Paisan, Berkeley Law, Room 100, 7 pm. April 26: Giuseppe De Santis, Under the Olive Tree, 159 Mulford Hall, 8 pm (free)
Symposium with distinguished faculty from UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of Law together with the leader of Italy's Associazione Giuseppe De Santis April 26: “Tale of Two Women from postwar Italian cinema to human rights today,” Berkeley Law, Room 170, 2-5 pm (free)
Live at The Marsh Theater. April 27: Maria Grazia Affinito, Eating Pasta off the Floor, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, 7:30 pm. “Hilarious and bittersweet … a spellbinding tale,” KQED Arts. See https://themarsh.org/eating_pasta/maria-affinito/ for tickets.
Ms. Affinito will also perform a scene from her play on opening night (April 24).
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