In Giffoni the man who changed history. Nobel Peace Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev at the Festival: 'Here is the joy and spontaneity of the world'
Today, homage is paid everywhere to the figure of this extraordinary man: Mikhail Gorbachev, the last President of great Russia. Historians, commentators, analysts, economists, remember him for having given a new imposing history to Russia and Europe.
He paid for having made a choice of freedom, transparency, in trying to rejuvenate the powerful and strongly ideological nomenclature. There are all the areas of light and shadow and history has already told us how many mistakes were made even by countries and international organizations that, at that time, had to keep faith with their promises and support this process of democratization.
For the current generations I think the strongest image is always that of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I imagine he lived all these moments in absolute solitude and fear, with a system that was starting to be intolerant and even ready to build a betrayal of Gorbachev.
Gorbachev in Giffoni in 1997. Five years after being ousted and leaving power to Boris Yeltsin, who harshly humiliated him in Parliament. Now imagine one of the most powerful men in the world here, in Giffoni. And imagine our festival in 1997. Today I tell this great historical event as if it were simple. Many were amazed by the presence of this great statesman, in fact, I can say, for me it was simple. Already in 1993 I wrote him a first letter inviting him to Giffoni. No response. And so it was in the following years. I was aware of having to give our Giffoners history, through a man who made history. I never tired of writing and so, in 1997, I received the famous letter in Russian from his secretary confirming his presence in Giffoni with his wife Raissa Gorbachev. This first speech of mine will be followed by other memories of a man who, undoubtedly, also made our history.
In Giffoni he released many statements, river speeches, always with the desire to communicate, explain, make himself understood. Among his statements I cite this one: "I have never thought of a film inspired by my books, but if it were to happen I would be happy to be awarded by the kids of Giffoni. Here there is the joy and spontaneity of the world."
THE FULL STORY OF GORBACHEV'S VISIT TO GIFFONI
24-25 July 1997
Berlin, Europe, Peace. On October 15, 1990, a giant of our recent history receives the Nobel Peace Prize. The previous year, on November 9, the Berlin Wall crumbles.
I remember the many television reports, the newspapers, Europe celebrating, the tears of those who were in East Germany and could finally embrace their loved ones and relatives left in the West. A historical, indelible page. It was precisely during those moments that I decided to bring this man of History to Giffoni. Him, Mikhail Gorbachev. My desire was to give Giffoni and its boys the person who had demolished the harsh Soviet communist system and opened the doors to Perestroika, democracy.
In 1993, armed with a lot of willpower, I wrote him a long and detailed letter (strictly sent by post) inviting him. Nothing happened. The same in '94 and '95. I did not lose heart and in February 1997 I returned to the charge with a letter even more full of passion. I waited in vain and without hope until May. Then I received a letter by fax, a revolution in communication at the time, which reproduced letters on a very sensitive paper that if not photocopied, faded until it disappeared. The letter was strictly in Russian, but even though I did not know Cyrillic, I understood by feeling and intuition that I had made it and that Gorbachev would come to Giffoni. I immediately had it translated. It was exactly like that. It confirmed, among other things, that he would be accompanied by his wife Raissa Gorbachev. And who could have stopped me from joy? I organized the program, the protocol, the trip, everything in a very short time, and sent it to his secretary for approval. All confirmed. His team let me know that, participating in a film festival, they would be very pleased to meet Michele Placido, because he and his wife had followed the television series “La piovra”, which was very popular in Russia.
When the news came that he would be coming to Giffoni in July, there was a flood of requests for interviews and meetings. Journalists wanted to know how I had managed to convince one of the most important and influential men in the world to come to Giffoni. He explained it later in the press conference, when he said that my insistence over the years had made a positive impression on him. The power of a letter.
I had also included two institutional stops in Salerno in the program: the first with the then Mayor Vincenzo De Luca (current President of the Campania Region) and a second with the President of the Province of Salerno, Alfonso Andria.
My reasoning was always linear in simplicity: the hotel for him and the kind lady was the Lloyd's Baia Hotel, in mixed territory between the municipality of Vietri sul mare and Salerno, and then to the Province because Giffoni Valle Piana is in the province of Salerno. With some difficulty I managed to agree on the events. The day before I personally went to check the room in the hotel, the best one, renovated for the occasion, large basket of lemons, fruit and flowers and also the two rooms for his personal safety, same corridor, close to his.
For the official lunch, not having restaurants first of all large and then worthy of the guests, I discreetly asked my friend Vincenzo Siniscalchi, an enlightened entrepreneur, if we could use the park and courtyard of the splendid Castel Rovere, a kilometer from Giffoni. He didn't even let me finish before he immediately said a grand yes. This too was done. For the dinner of his arrival we prepared tables and everything we needed inside the Giardino degli Aranci, entrusting ourselves to the care of Armando and Domenico De Luca, owners of the Hotel San Katrin, in Giffoni.
Gorbachev's arrival also attracted the attention of former Prime Minister Ciriaco De Mita, who had been Gorbachev's guest at the Kremlin. Through one of his collaborators, he let me know that he wanted to be there. Honestly, when he was head of the Government, I expected him to be in Giffoni. I invited him because of the institutional role he held and because he was a friend. I did not have this privilege. Naturally, I said yes.
Gorbachev's secretary also informed me that the prestigious couple was very fond of Neapolitan songs. We called the famous artist Bruno Venturini. I had taken care of all the details, even Russian music for his arrival in the arena set up in Piazza Fratelli Lumiere.
I booked the flight from Moscow to Rome, and then to Naples, with Alitalia. We arrive on the expected day. The Ministry of the Interior, activated for the occasion by his other great friend Giorgio Napolitano, let me know that the plane would leave with a two-hour delay. Panic. Now I tell this episode that certainly if it had happened today would have immediately become social news and certainly not welcome.
When the captain of the plane realized that by landing late in Rome he would have missed the connection to Naples, in agreement with the angels and saints, all gathered in conclave, he decided to change course and head towards Milan, with the agreement and agreement of the passengers who also gave a warm round of applause at the announcement.
Having taken the connection from Milan to Naples, he finally arrived at his destination. Authorized by the airport authorities, I waited with the cars on the landing strip, under the plane. As soon as the door opened, I got on board, he was in the front row, I introduced myself and believe me, in one way or another, I wanted to give him, with the excuse of a hug, a kiss right on his birthmark on his head. Luckily I had provided a few extra cars, because one was only needed for the many bags. He was supposed to arrive in Giffoni at 21:00 PM. It was now midnight and I had the music program changed and upon his arrival I had what do you think played in the arena? “Midnight in Moscow/Giffoni”. The square was packed, over 5000 people. I asked my friend Paolo Liguori, who was there, to entertain the audience with interviews with the many guests, such as Michele Placido who was waiting in the front row, Remo Girone, another leading actor in “La Piovra” and the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami.
From his arrival in Giffoni another 15 minutes passed behind the stage, because Mrs. Raissa had been disturbed on the curves from Salerno to Giffoni. Tea, drinks and anything else to ease the discomfort were ready. Music. Gorbachev and Raissa on stage. After the welcome greetings from the mayor of Giffoni, Ugo Carpinelli, the president of our organization, Carlo Andria, and my speech, Gorbachev's long and detailed speech on peace to a respectful, exultant, silent crowd. After the meeting we moved to the square of Giffoni to enter the Giardino degli Aranci. I had never seen such a crowd at almost two in the morning. There was no need to maintain order as two wings had spontaneously formed, hands raised to greet him and he responded with so much affection. Our guests were also at dinner, and there was a long conversation with Michele Placido, Remo Girone and others. They were very happy.
At 3:30 the dinner ended and I thought there was no one outside. Instead there were more people than before. I still have these wonderful moments in my eyes.
The next day, the Mayor of Salerno, Vincenzo De Luca, promptly took him around the city amidst a jubilation of people, then followed the official visit to the Province of Salerno and at 13:00 we left again for Giffoni, near Castel Rovere, wonderfully welcomed by the entire Siniscalchi family, who offered a welcome cocktail in their private living room. Lunch was offered by the President of the Province of Salerno, Alfonso Andria, and taken care of in the smallest details by Emidio Trotta.
I think he had to take hundreds of photos with all the guests there. He couldn't eat, until I called Bruno Venturini, who proposed a nice selection of Neapolitan songs. At that lunch there were, as mentioned, Ciriaco De Mita, Vincenzo De Luca, Alfonso Andria and many mayors and administrators. After lunch we moved to the Cinema Valle for the meeting with the giffoners. After an hour or more we were back in the square at the Giardino degli aranci for the press conference. The next day, with a private plane, he left Naples for Sardinia, where they were waiting for him for a conference.
I had the pleasure of talking privately with him and his wife. He told me everything about his story and the problems he and his family had after Perestroika. The secret services followed him everywhere, and he confided in me that once he found his entire house in disarray. I had been with an exceptional man, and even today, telling you the story in this long post, I am moved and impressed.
Article published on 31 August 2022 - 18:31
