By Jill Yesko , University Relations
Contact (336) 334-3890
Posted:3-26-07
GREENSBORO, N.C. – When Felice Impastato’s son Guiseppi “Peppino” Impastato was killed by the Sicilian Mafia in 1978 for protesting against the group, the widow, whose husband was also murdered by the Mafia, decided to fight back.
Impastato’s long and difficult road to avenge Peppino’s death at the hands of a powerful, local Mafioso, is the subject of “A Beautiful Memory: A Mother and Her Sons Against the Mafia,” a new documentary by Anthony Fragola, a professor in the Department of Broadcasting and Cinema at UNCG.
The 40-minute film, which was shot in Sicily and features interviews with Impastato and her other son Giovanni – an anti-Mafia spokesman, will be shown on Sunday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Elliott University Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Giovanni Impastato, who has dedicated his life to educating young people about the Mafia and terrorist organizations, will offer a presentation following the movie.
Guitarist Mark Mazzatenta, a lecturer at of the School of Music, composed and performed the film’s original score.
The film was first shown in September in a demonstration against the Mafia in San Vito Locapo, near Sicily, a notorious Mafia stronghold. It was also shown at a conference on global terrorism at Middlebury College, as well as at Elon University and the Triangle Sons of Italy.
“Felice Impastato was one of the first women to break the code of silence and speak out against the Mafia,” said Fragola, who met Impastato while on a research leave in Italy. “Because of her bravery, she became a symbol of revolt against the Mafia. For 26 years, Felice and her son Giovanni sought to bring justice and honor to Peppino. It was a long, hard struggle, but the family did it.”
While Peppino Impastato’s killing was instrumental in raising public awareness about the Mafia, killings of magistrates, police, politicians in Italy continued into the 1990s,
Unlike popular images of the Mafia portrayed on television shows such as “The Sopranos,” Fragola says the real-life Sicilian Mafia — as depicted in his documentary — is far from a colorful collection of characters. “The Mafia is a terrorist organization,” said Fragola. “They operate through violence, intimidation, death and torture.”
For more information, contact the Department of Broadcasting and Cinema at (336) 334-5360.
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