The Italo-Belgian Pact

At the end of World War II the Italian Government had the heavy responsibility  to revive the image of a defeated nation in the complex European political scene, a nation that was carrying the burden of a disastrous economic situation.

The initiative of the Italo-Belgian Agreement taken by the first President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi, was then considered of great advantage and prestige: on one hand it gave many Italians the certainty of a job, on the other hand it guaranteed the country with a source of energy necessary for the beginning of an industrial process, to raise the national economy.

In these frames the faces of the unknown protagonists of this phenomenon follow one another and tell, with simple and sorrowful words, about the moment they “decided” to leave their lands, aware of the fact that besides poverty they were leaving bounds of affection, but unaware of what was really awaiting them.

The succession of the events told by the emigrants, together with the images of the dark drifts down the mines and the noise of the drills, lead the audience towards an ever growing belief that some among the most significant pages of Italian history have been written by these old lives.

It is a tangible evidence of how every man can raise again from his terrible living conditions and that just in hardship he can find the strength and dignity to carry on and succeed.

Locations:

Belgium

• Belgium: Charleroi, Morlanwelz, Colfontaine, Genk, Liegi, Mons, Quaregnon, Bruxelles;

• Belgium mines: Blegny Mine, Ecomusee du Bois-du-Luc, Le Bois du Cazier

Italy

• Italy: Caltanissetta, Casteltermini (AG), Palermo.

• Italy mines: Cozzo Disi (Casteltermini)