The setting is that of the Sicilian Gramsci Institute of Palermo which offers the large audience the reading of two words in red on the back wall: memory and commitment.
Today here we commemorate the commitment of a Sicilian who lived in the last century, Maria Occhipinti, and the “Don’t leave” revolt in Ragusa: a spur to desertion addressed by mothers, sisters, daughters, engaged to those recalled to arms on the eve of the end of the Second World War.
For the Anpi the greeting is from Letizia Colajanni, who apologizes for her hoarse voice, which was lost due to having spoken in a school without amplification that same morning. But nothing will be lost, her voice will resonate among the young men and women who invited her to remember the Resistance.
For the Udi Daniela Dioguardi reminds us of the other Sicilians and their Resistance, armed and unarmed, and reads words from our protagonist, never so relevant as now, on the need to eradicate the war machine at its roots.
Then the voice is that of the two women on stage, Francesca Martino, creator of the piece, and Elena Pistillo, who also directed it. Spoken word and sung word, with passion, with irony. Thus they tell us the truth of a woman and her difficulty in being herself in her time. Like everyone else, she is considered crazy for her desire not to conform, like everyone else, she was thrown into the arms of a man while still a child.
The little girl grows up and finds the words to express her dissent on the injustices of the world that ruin the pieces, the last ones, the poor women who don’t even know how to sign. And she, who has done up to the third grade and knows how to read, no longer wants to be a piece of cake.
A thousand questions in Maria’s head. Where is everybody? Dead.
With her husband in the army, she sells eggs and reads books. She reads and rereads about the injustices of the world.
And the story of the war continues until the brief illusion of peace.
No ransom for the people oppressed by new masters, smugglers enriched by the hunger of those asking for subsidies. And the people of women raise their voices for that little bread, pasta and stinky flour. That’s Maria: she wants to participate in the people’s struggles until the pink postcard arrives for the people’s children. You are on January 4, 1945 in Ragusa.
Maria lies on her back in front of the wheels of the cart that takes away the rounded up men to be sent to the front. She is five months pregnant. The rebellion mounts and after a week on the run Maria is caught and taken to prison. Why, ma’am? Because I’m tired of the war. She will give birth in prison and she will remain there until the amnesty of the Republic which won the Referendum.
Maria leaves prison and breathes her first freedom.
And on the song “our homeland is the whole world” the audience applauds.
Tags: Maria Occhipinti woman Ragusa
