“THEthe movie? Brief story of my life that sees me smiling on the Pesaro beach that I love very much, but some things hadn’t happened yet. The film was shot before October 7th and before October 8th, two dates that profoundly marked my character, my mood, and my perception of the facts of which I am once again witness. I hope the film is understood for what it is, the story of a life.”
Thus Senator Liliana Segre spoke with a video message at the event organized by the Consortium of Royal Savoy Residences and by the journalist and writer Claudia Conte which was held at the Citroniera of the Royal Palace of Venaria.
The evening saw the screening of the documentary film Lilianafollowed by a debate moderated by Claudia Conte in which the director Ruggero Gabbai, the President and Director of the Consortium of Royal Savoy Residences Michele Briamonte and Chiara Teolato, the President of the Shoah Museum Foundation Mario Venezia, the President of the Jewish Community participated of Turin Dario Disegno, Giulio Disegno, vice president of Ucei, Ugo Foa, writer, forced in 1938, following of the enactment of “laws for the defense of the race” by the fascist regime, to live in hiding so as not to be deported.
The Minister for Public Administration Paolo Zangrillo also wanted to send his thanks to the senator for life «for having given us the gift not only of this intimate and personal testimony of hers, but also for her constant commitment to the new generations, and for passing on the value of memory and human dignity. We live in a moment full of challenges – continued Zangrillo – «not only economic and political, but above all social challenges that put peace and civil coexistence at risk. Today more than ever each of us is called to do our part, so that barbarism like that of the Holocaust is never repeated again. Against gestures of hatred and terror, there is no stronger antidote than knowledge.”
«Liliana Segre represents a symbol and a tireless witness of the Holocaust, and a bulwark against anti-Semitism – states Federico Mollicone, President of the Culture Commission of the Chamber with his testimony sent to the Royal Palace of Venaria – «Listening to her story is an act of love towards the nation and responsibility towards the future of the State. Commemorating Remembrance Day – continues Mollicone – does not only mean remembering those tragic days, but must also be a warning to continue to shed light on the latent anti-Semitism which unfortunately still decimates some squares and organisations”.
Great satisfaction for the event also on the part of Massimo Briamonte, President of the Consortium of Savoy Royal Residences: «I strongly wanted this touching initiative with not only symbolic value to be held at the Royal Palace of Venaria: a historical testimony of universal values to always be kept into account, with the recognition of gratitude towards a woman who continues to teach the virtue of human dignity and memory. Having built a bridge of this type between past and present in a UNESCO heritage site – concludes Briamonte – further confirms to me what role and mission cultural heritage can play in civil society”.
The journalist and writer Claudia Conte, among the organizers of the evening, underlines that «today there exists a latent and creeping, subtle and insidious anti-Semitism, which must be stopped at all costs. The film about Senator Liliana Segre is not just a cinematographic work, but a beacon lit on collective memory. Telling his story means remembering one of humanity’s darkest periods, to teach us not to repeat the same mistakes. Her voice, her courage and her resilience are a precious gift for all generations, but also a warning to fight indifference and promote peace and tolerance. Watching this film – he concludes – is an act of responsibility towards the past, but also towards our future.”
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