Mostra “Sordi e il suo tempo”: un secolo raccontato 20 anni dopo la sua scomparsa
“Alberto Sordi and His Time” is the title of the exhibition curated by Alessandra Maria Sette, promoted by the Sordi Foundation and held at Villa Sordi, the actor and director’s house-museum, from September 22nd to November 26th. The exhibition is located on the Celio Hill, at the beginning of the Appian Way, with the backdrop of the Caracalla Baths. It is organized by the Sordi Foundation, with the patronage of Rome Capital and in collaboration with Cinecittà, the Luce Archive, and Rai Teche. Next year, a statue will be placed in the park of Villa De Sanctis, adjacent to Cinecittà, in honor of Sordi. A competition for ideas has already been announced for young people.
The exhibition follows a chronological order, starting from the post-war period and Sordi’s birth in Trastevere on June 15th, 1920, until his passing on February 24th, 2003, and his funeral at the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Laterano. Alongside Sordi’s artistic history, the exhibition also showcases the history of Italy, reminiscent of the television series “Storia di un Italiano” aired on Rai. This history is explored through photos and scenes from Sordi’s films, from “La Grande Guerra” to “I vitelloni,” from “Polvere di stelle” to “Bello, onesto, emigrato…,” from “Il medico della mutua” to “Un borghese piccolo piccolo,” from “Detenuto in attesa di giudizio” to “Tutti dentro,” from “Le vacanze intelligenti” to “In viaggio con papà,” from “Marchese del Grillo” to “Tassinaro” and “Nestore ultima corsa.”
“This place is not and should not be a museum,” says Walter Veltroni, former deputy prime minister and mayor of Rome, now honorary president of the Sordi Foundation. “It is a living place, where Alberto Sordi thought, imagined, and invented. Everything that will be done here will serve to maintain the idea of a creative workshop. The exhibition represents a commendable intertwining of Italian history, the history of cinema, and Alberto Sordi’s artistic history. All of his films, to varying degrees, have covered the entire history of 20th-century Italy, with the unifying characteristic of speaking to and connecting with a wide audience. We want to celebrate this relationship between Sordi and Italy, and between Sordi and his Rome, an indissoluble bond. It was not him who ‘became’ Roman, but it was the Romans who assimilated his accent, his mannerisms, and his expressions.”
According to Miguel Gotor, the councilor for culture in Rome, it is important to maintain the integrity of this place while avoiding the “musealization” of Sordi’s character. “There is nothing further from the spirit of Albertone,” he says. Sordi is experiencing a second season, thanks to social media posts that introduce him to younger generations who did not have the opportunity to appreciate him when he was alive. Gotor also suggests organizing a cinema arena in the square in front of Villa Sordi as part of the Roman Summer events.
(by Enzo Bonaiuto)
