Salò Students Watch ‘Placido Rizzotto’ Film on Mafia and Dignity
The future accountants of Salò went to a “mafia lesson,” guests at the Cristal to watch the screening of the film “Placido Rizzotto,” in the presence of director Pasquale Scimeca and the secretary of the Brescia Labour Chamber, Dino Greco. Produced by RAI, Placido Rizzotto is an emotional film, one of the most engaging presented at the last Venice Film Festival.
A mafia story told like a ballad by a storyteller. Originating from Corleone, after the war in the North, Rizzotto returned home to fight alongside farmers and break the cycle of abuse. He was killed in March 1948 by Luciano Liggio’s men, who was taking his first steps within the honorable society.
Liggio was arrested by Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, then a young captain of the carabinieri. The union leader was replaced by university student Pio La Torre. “A film that awakens strong feelings, that will shake you,” said Greco to students at Battisti, an institute for accountants, surveyors, and programmers.
Influences and messages of the film
I hope it helps you dig even deeper. In short, a hymn to those who do not bend, and want to straighten the legs of dogs. Rizzotto does not seek the decadent myth of the beautiful death. He loves life, but does not intend to submit to oppression and feudal relationships.
The interpretative keys of the film were provided by the Sicilian director himself. “I told a piece of lesser history,” said Scimeca. Rizzotto, a semi-illiterate peasant, learned to fight for freedom and respect for human dignity on the Carnian mountains, alongside partisans.
Back in Corleone, he tried to continue with these ideals, fighting against large landowners, allies of the mafia to keep farmers in ignorance. The second level is literary: throughout the images, there is the presence of Elio Vittorini, a great writer. Then there is an anthropological key: the depiction of how people lived.
The final message
“Finally, current relevance. Rizzotto knew that, before him, 35 others had been killed. Yet he fought to the end, sacrificing himself. Today, people believe in money and wealth. But human dignity is priceless. Just like the desire to fight to change the world. No, my film is not a commercial type.”
“A lesson for everyone, on topics sometimes overlooked,” commented Professor Paolo Canipari. And the principal, Carolina Almici Bologna, said: “A step toward education in legality and respect for the person.” The students, struck by the scenes, silently watched the screening.